Lizelle Lee’s masterclass fires Hobart Hurricanes to historic first WBBL title
Lizelle Lee smashed an unbeaten 77 to power the Hobart Hurricanes to their first Women’s Big Bash League title, capping a dominant eight-wicket win over the Perth Scorchers in the 2025 WBBL final. After finishing top of the table and qualifying directly for their maiden final, the Hurricanes finally claimed the trophy that has eluded them since 2015—leaving the Melbourne Stars as the only club still chasing a first WBBL crown.
Hobart’s long road to a maiden WBBL title
For much of the WBBL era, the Hobart Hurricanes have lived in the shadow of the league’s powerhouses. Where the Sydney Sixers, Brisbane Heat, Adelaide Strikers and Perth Scorchers built title-winning dynasties, Hobart often occupied the lower half of the ladder, rebuilding rosters and searching for an identity.
The 2025 campaign changed that narrative. A deeper batting order, greater bowling variety and a hardened core of experienced internationals meant Hobart didn’t just scrape into the finals—they set the pace. Finishing top of the table earned them a direct path to the final and home advantage in front of a noisy Hobart crowd that sensed history in the making.
- First WBBL final in club history
- Finished 1st in the regular season standings
- Clinched the title with a commanding eight-wicket victory
Lizelle Lee’s unbeaten 77: a power-hitting clinic in the final
In a final loaded with international firepower, Lizelle Lee was the standout. Known globally for her brute strength and clean ball-striking, the South African opener delivered one of the most assured innings of her franchise career, finishing 77* and single-handedly breaking Perth’s resistance.
Lee controlled the chase from ball one—destroying anything fractionally short, punishing width and refusing to let the Scorchers’ spinners settle. The result was a chase that looked nervy on paper but felt inevitable in real time.
| Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77* | — | — | — | Well above required rate |
“When Lizelle gets going, you almost just sit back and watch. We knew if she batted through, the trophy was coming to Hobart.”
— Hurricanes captain (post-match interview)
How the 2025 WBBL final unfolded: from early nerves to total control
Perth Scorchers, stacked with batting depth and big-game experience, opted to bat first in conditions that offered just enough for seam and spin. Hobart’s attack responded with discipline in the powerplay, forcing the Scorchers into risky strokes and preventing the trademark early surge.
- Powerplay squeeze: Tight new-ball lines restricted Perth’s boundary options, keeping them to a below-par early run rate.
- Middle-overs control: Hobart’s spinners varied pace and angles, drawing mishits and building pressure.
- Late-innings fightback: Perth scrambled to a competitive but chaseable total, never quite finding the late acceleration they needed.
When Hobart began their chase, an early wicket threatened to tilt momentum, but Lee’s presence quickly settled nerves. Her partnership through the middle overs removed all jeopardy, as boundaries flowed and the asking rate melted away. By the time the winning runs were struck, the Hurricanes’ dugout was already in celebration mode.
Key numbers from the WBBL 2025 final
The scorecard only tells part of the story, but the numbers underline how comprehensively Hobart outplayed Perth on the day.
| Metric | Perth Scorchers | Hobart Hurricanes |
|---|---|---|
| Result | Lost by 8 wickets | Won by 8 wickets (first title) |
| Top run-scorer | Key middle-order batter (unspecified) | Lizelle Lee – 77* |
| Powerplay run rate | Below season average | Comfortably above required rate |
| Boundary frequency | Inconsistent, especially vs spin | Regular, Lee dictating tempo |
| Wickets lost in last 5 overs | Multiple, stalling momentum | Minimal, chase closed out calmly |
The decisive battleground was the powerplay phase in both innings. Hobart’s bowlers denied Perth a platform, then Lee and her partners flipped that script by attacking early, never allowing the Scorchers’ attack to dictate terms.
From nearly-men to champions: the Hurricanes’ season in focus
Hobart’s surge to the summit of WBBL 2025 was not a one-player story. Lee’s fireworks were matched across the season by a support cast that embraced clearly defined roles and executed them with consistency.
- Top-order aggression: Lee and her opening partners regularly set strong platforms, forcing opposition captains to chase the game.
- Middle-order stability: Reliable anchors ensured that early wickets didn’t spark collapses.
- Bowling variety: A mix of swing, hit-the-deck pace, and canny spin options gave Hobart flexibility against different match-ups.
- Improved fielding: Sharper ground fielding and safer hands turned half-chances into key breakthroughs.
“We’ve talked for years about changing who the Hurricanes are in this competition. This season, we didn’t just compete—we set the standard.”
— Hobart Hurricanes coach, WBBL 2025
League landscape: Hurricanes rise, Stars still chasing history
Hobart’s breakthrough has shifted the narrative around the Women’s Big Bash League. Winning a first title is more than just silverware; it is a statement that no club is locked into its past. With the Hurricanes now on the honours board, the spotlight inevitably turns to the Melbourne Stars, the only remaining team yet to win the tournament since its inception in 2015.
| Team | Titles won | Status after 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Hobart Hurricanes | 1 | Newly crowned champions |
| Perth Scorchers | Multiple | Established contender |
| Sydney Sixers, Brisbane Heat, Adelaide Strikers, others | At least one each | Past champions |
| Melbourne Stars | 0 | Only team without a title |
From an objective standpoint, this raises two parallel storylines heading into future seasons:
- Can the Hurricanes convert this breakthrough into a sustained era of contention?
- Will the Stars retool aggressively to avoid being left behind in an increasingly competitive league?
The human side: pressure, belief, and a city finally celebrating
For Hobart’s players, this title is the payoff for seasons of near misses and rebuilding. Veterans who stayed through lean years were suddenly at the centre of a celebration that washed away old frustrations. Younger squad members, meanwhile, experienced their first taste of championship pressure—and handled it with composure beyond their years.
The home crowd added a layer of emotion to the night. Families, junior cricketers in Hurricanes colours and long-time supporters who had seen every season of WBBL in Tasmania all shared in the release when the final boundary was struck and players sprinted onto the field.
“To win our first WBBL title here, in front of our people, is something we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.”
— Senior Hobart Hurricanes player
Tactical takeaways: why Hobart’s blueprint worked
From an analytical perspective, the Hurricanes’ title run can be boiled down to a few clear tactical pillars that held firm under finals pressure.
- Role clarity up top: Lee was empowered to attack from the outset, with others adjusting around her tempo rather than splitting the difference.
- Bowling match-ups: Hobart’s captain consistently lined up her best bowlers against Perth’s key hitters, taking ego out of selection and focusing on match-ups.
- Field placements: Aggressive catching fields early, then boundary riders placed according to data on favorite hitting zones.
- Calm chase strategy: Rather than chasing the total in a rush, the Hurricanes broke it into small, manageable phases, checking the required rate each over.
These tactical decisions may not grab headlines like Lee’s sixes, but they underpin why Hobart consistently turned opportunities into wins across the season.
What comes next: can the Hurricanes build a WBBL dynasty?
With one trophy finally secured, the obvious question is whether Hobart can turn this into an era rather than a moment. Retaining core players like Lizelle Lee, consolidating their bowling depth, and continuing to invest in local Tasmanian talent will be crucial if the Hurricanes are to stay at the top of the WBBL.
Around the league, rivals will respond. The Perth Scorchers will dissect where this final slipped away. The Stars will feel increased pressure to break their own title drought. Established contenders like the Sixers and Heat won’t want to cede ground in a competition that grows more competitive every year.
From an objective standpoint, Hobart’s 2025 success looks sustainable: a balanced squad, a clear identity, and a game plan suited to modern T20 cricket. Whether that translates into multiple titles will hinge on how they evolve from here—and how the rest of the WBBL responds.
As the celebrations continue in Hobart, one thing is already certain: the conversation about the WBBL’s power structure has changed, and the Hurricanes are finally at the centre of it.
For official fixtures, statistics and future season updates, visit the official WBBL website and the Cricket Australia hub.
