Sydney Thunder through to WBBL grand final after semi-final victory over Brisbane

The Brisbane Heat seemed to be running away with the semi-final through Laura Kimmince (37 from 17) and needed 25 from 28 balls with six wickets in hand.

Incredibly, in one of the biggest collapses in WBBL history, they were bowled out for 131 in the 19th over, gifting the Thunder a 12-run victory and passage into the grand final, to be played on Saturday against the red-hot Melbourne Stars at North Sydney.

Two run outs started to swing the momentum.

The first was executed by Litchfield, her pin-point throw from the deep bringing down Georgia Voll and kicking off a monumental 6-12 collapse at the death.

Then spinner Sam Bates (2-37) and Hannah Darlington (3-19) claimed three wickets in six balls to turn the match.

It was Bates dismissal of Laura Kimmince in the 17th over that was vital.

Sammy-Jo Johnson (2-14) claimed the final wicket to bowl out her former team.

But it was 18-year-old Darlington who won player of the match after, again, showing her composure at the death and was on a hat-trick for the third time this big bash campaign.

Earlier after the Thunder's heroics with the ball, it was skipper Rachel Haynes who set up the victory after steering the lime green girls to 6-143 with an unbeaten 48 not out from 44 balls.

Haynes hit 13 of the 15 from the final over of the Thunder innings, capping the innings in style after English opener Tammy Beaumont got the Thunder off to a fast start with 27 from 20.

Litchfield, coming in at No.5, scored a run-a-ball seven before being drawn forward by young leg-spinner Amelia Kerr and stumped.

Saturday's grand final at North Sydney Oval starts at 7.10pm against the Stars.

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