Fighter Jemimah Rodrigues battles injury to power Brisbane Heat into WBBL 2024 final

India’s Jemimah Rodrigues showed grit and determination to guide the Brisbane Heat in the final of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2024. On Friday, November 29, the Jess Jonassen-led Head defeated Phoebe Litchfield’s Sydney Thunder by nine wickets in the Challenger at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane.

Although it was Grace Parsons who won the Player of the Match award for taking three wickets, Jemimah played a huge role, scoring 43 runs off 30 balls with an injured wrist. Jemimah’s knock laced with five fours and a six helped the Heat chase down a target of 134 with 28 balls to spare.

Jemimah was in some discomfort in the clash against the Thunder, but she stayed focussed throughout. In the third over of the Thunder’s innings, Jemimah injured her left hand while trying to stop the ball from going to the boundary. She managed to save the four, but had to go off the park due to the injury.

When she came to bat, she got a lifeline on naught. Anika Learoyd dropped her at point off Shabnim Ismail. From there on, Jemimah did not look back and kept playing her shots with ease. She played the ramp shot to good effect and also smacked Taneale Peschel for a massive six on the leg side.

But after the 10th over of the Heat’s run-chase, Jemimah retired hurt, after which Charli Knott replaced her. After the Heat lost the early wicket of Grace Harris, Jemimah put on 75 runs for the second wicket with opener Georgia Redmayne, who made 53 off 41.

When Jemimah went off, the Heat were placed at 89 for one with 45 runs needed off 60 balls. Jemimah had laid the platform, after which the Heat romped home in 15.2 overs.

The Heat will face Melbourne Renegades in the final on December 1, and it remains to be seen if Jemimah gets fit before the summit clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.