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Brisbane Heat are up to their fourth WBBL decider after legspinner Grace Parsons broke the back of Sydney Thunder bat composition in another slick display of her craft.
Heat captain Jess Jonassen sent the Thunder to Allan Border Field and lined up his players to perfection as the visitors slumped to 7-69.
A WBBL record 64 for the eighth wicket from Hannah Darlington (40no) and Taneale Peschel (24no) lifted the Thunder to 7-133.
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But the Heat smoothed over the runs in 15.2 overs for a nine-wicket win to set up a WBBL final clash against the Melbourne Renegades at the MCG on Sunday.
India international Jemima Rodriguez was dropped three times, two of them sitting, en route to a qualified 43 off 30 deliveries before retiring injured. She combined with opener Georgia Redmayne (53no) to set up the chase.
Rodrigues had injured her left wrist in the field and had to retire in the 10th over. She is probably in doubt for the final, but Redmayne and Charlie Knott (19no) at least showed the Heat’s depth.
The 21-year-old Parsons had earlier taken 3-10 in three classy overs to secure her side’s sixth straight win.
She received her second official man of the match award after earlier taking 3-22 against Renegades.
“It’s really nice to do it in front of our special supporters,” she said.
“This is my debut season. I started well and went down a bit in the middle, but I slowed things down and had more confidence in myself.
“Cam Boyce, our leg-spin coach, has been great, inspiring belief. It was disappointing to miss out last year, but it gave me 12 months to hone my skills.
“To be able to have the opportunity to play a final at the MCG is a dream come true. I don’t think it gets much better.
Thunder Georgia Wall (20) looked good against her former side before taking advantage of Nicola Hancock’s spell first ball.
Jonassen showed immediately why she was named in the WBBL Team of the Decade when she cleaned up Chamari Athapaththu with her first delivery, a beauty that drifted and spun.
Wicketkeeper Talia Wilson dropped Parsons and the visitors stumbled to 3-51.
Parsons picked up the key wicket of captain Phoebe Litchfield (15), who was brilliantly caught by Jonassen at mid-on as she leaped high and hit a well-struck shot over her head.
And Parsons had two in the over when Georgia Adams drove one.
Jonassen caught former Heat all-rounder Sammy-Jo Johnson and at 7-69 the Thunder were in dire straits before Darlington and Peschel lifted them to a competitive total.
Both posted career-best scores and unleashed a flurry of sixes and fours as the Heat bowlers bowled rubbish in the final overs.
The stand broke the previous record of 60, also unbeaten, set by Lauren Ebsari and Piepa Cleary in 2018. for Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades.
The Hots lost Grace Harris (7) stumped early after a stormy lift to hand Sam Bates her 20th wicket of the season. Redmayne and Rodriguez then ensured the home side cruised to victory.
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