AMEY KULKARNI: The Adelaide Strikers captain praised her side's "calmness" in the final, adding that this achievement ranks alongside all of the medals she has won with Australia
Winning the 2022/23 Women's Big Bash is a "special" achievement, according to Adelaide Strikers captain, Tahlia McGrath.
The Strikers lifted their maiden WBBL title at North Sydney Oval after defeating Sydney Sixers, who topped the regular season table, by 10 runs.
"This one's special for different reasons," McGrath said, when asked how this victory compared to her successes with Australia. She has won the World Cup, the Ashes and Commonwealth gold this year alone.
"It's my home state, it's something I'm really passionate about, I've been there since day one. Working so closely alongside (coach) Luke Williams, playing with some of my best mates.
Adelaide Strikers won their maiden WBBL title at North Sydney Oval [Mark Kolbe/Getty Images]
"I mean, there's World Cups, there's Comm Games, but this is special for different reasons.
"This one's been a long time in the making, which makes it that extra special. When you get so close so many times, you keep the same group together, you keep fighting and you finally get one."
Reflecting on how her side defeated the Sixers, successfully defending 147 against one of the best batting line-ups in the competition, she added: "There was like a calmness around the team today.
"We didn't get overawed by the occasion. At the end of the day, it was a game of cricket, we showed up, and we got the job done.
"Our bowlers were amazing. I will back us to defend any total and once again, they did the job again today."