It has been their own little fortress in Sydney's south in recent years but Hurstville Oval couldn't save the Sydney Sixers' women's Big Bash League finals hopes over the weekend.
The Sixers needed to win both matches of their double header against the Adelaide Strikers at Hurstville on Saturday and Sunday to qualify for the WBBL finals. But with their defeat on Saturday and Sydney Thunder's failure to beat the Melbourne Renegades on Sunday, last season's finalists fell short.
It is the first time in the five seasons of the WBBL that no Sydney teams will feature in the play-offs.
The Sixers were up against it before a ball was bowled with Ellyse Perry remaining absent with her shoulder injury despite the star all-rounder being confident she would be right to play earlier in the week.
But Perry's unavailability didn't stop good crowds making their way to Hurstville, with support for the Sixers continuing to grow with the franchise playing a number of games in the St George district in recent years.
On Saturday, the Sixers got off to a disastrous start. Captain Alyssa Healy was dismissed without scoring, with Ashleigh Gardner (1) following shortly after to leave the hosts struggling at 2-4.
South Africa international Marizanne Kapp top scored with 20, with her wife Dane van Niekerk reaching 19.
Sarah Coyte was the destroyer with the ball for the Strikers, taking 3-9 from her four overs including the wicket of Kapp.
The Sixers limped to 9-93 from their 20 overs, with the visitors making light work of the run chase. Sophie Devine's unbeaten 46 helped Adelaide reach the target for the loss of just two wickets and with almost five overs to spare.
It was Sydney's fifth loss in a row and a result that took their finals destiny out of their own hands.
On Sunday, Healy's punishing 84 from just 38 balls helped the Sixers reach 7-177. The Southern Stars wicket-keeper/batter smashed seven sixes and seven fours to put Sydney in a strong position.
But the Sixers found out during the innings break that the Renegades had overcome the Thunder, making the result of their match redundant.
The Sixers restricted Adelaide to 7-164 from their 20 overs despite Devine's hard-hitting 60.
Adelaide will face Perth in semi-final one on Saturday, with minor premiers Brisbane to take on Melbourne Renegades in the second semi-final as part of a double header at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.
The final will be played on Sunday.
