Knight, Bates fire as Thunder defeat Heat in WBBL

England star Heather Knight cracked an unbeaten half-century and Sam Bates snared 4-25 to lead the Sydney Thunder to a 19-run WBBL victory over the Brisbane Heat at the WACA Ground.

Knight (59no off 34 balls), Phoebe Litchfield (40 off 25 balls) and Chamari Athapaththu (33 off 25 balls) all fired to lift the Thunder to a formidable 5-170 on Thursday.

In reply, Charli Knott (55 off 37 balls) and Grace Harris (41 off 31) threatened to pull off the run chase, but the Heat were eventually bowled out for 151 in 19.1 overs after Bates weaved her magic.

The result ensured the Thunder (3-1) remain on top of the ladder, while the Heat slipped to a 2-3 record.

After being sent in to bat, the Thunder were 0-13 in the third over when Georgia Voll was dropped by Laura Harris on two.

Voll would go on to score 22, but more importantly she combined with Athapaththu for a quick-fire 52-run opening stand to give the Thunder the perfect platform to launch.

Athapaththu and Litchfield cracked seven boundaries apiece, and Knight went into overdrive later in the innings as Brisbane's bowlers struggled to contain the star-studded battling line-up.

Heat spinner Jess Jonassen was superb with 3-22 from her four overs, and Shikha Pandey (1-21) was economical.

But the rest of Brisbane's bowlers struggled, with Grace Parsons (0-31 off two overs) and Nadine de Klerk (0-23 off two overs) copping the brunt of the punishment.

The Heat needed to make a fast start to their run chase, and opener Harris received three slices of luck during her blistering knock.

Harris was on five when she gloved a spinning Bates delivery through to the keeper.

The appeal was turned down, and the Thunder decided not to review it, but replays showed it clearly came off her glove.

Harris was then dropped on 26 and 32, but was eventually out when she was caught in the deep from a Taneale Peschel full toss.

Knott cracked six fours and a six to notch her maiden WBBL half-century and give the Heat a chance, but Brisbane's victory hopes came crumbling down when she was bowled by Bates.

Bates now has 12 wickets from four games in what has been a sizzling start to the season for the 28-year-old.

"I don't know if there's a real secret behind (my form). It's nice to be contributing finally," Bates told Fox Sports.

"I had a pretty ordinary season last year, so I reflected quite a bit on that.

"I changed some little things and they're paying off, which is nice."