Having finished top of the table at the end of the group stage, there was uncertainty about how that would impact Rockets going straight into the final.
Sunrisers had played one more game just two days ago, but would have taken confidence from winning it, while Rockets had not played since Monday.
In the end, it was inconsequential – Rockets dominated in every department.
While Sunrisers have relied heavily on performances from the brilliant Litchfield and Sutherland, in contrast Rockets have produced more all-round quality and had unlikely stars in the likes of Phillips and Sam Bates with the ball.
Bates, an uncapped Australian spinner, finished as the tournament’s joint-leading wicket-taker with 13, at an average of 14.46, while Phillips has bucked the general trend by standing out as an English domestic player.
With four overseas players introduced this year, fewer emerging players have been given much responsibility during the tournament, but Sunrisers’ batters struggled with Phillips’ slinging, awkward action.
She was given the responsibility of bowling in the powerplay, when Litchfield misjudged a ramp shot and was caught by Adams at short fine leg, before Phillips later had India’s World Cup winner Deepti Sharma bowled for just 12.
Meanwhile, Dunkley has had an exceptional season with the bat, finishing third in the run-scoring charts with one fewer innings compared to Sutherland and Litchfield above her.
The Rockets made light work of the chase and while the game was an underwhelming occasion, it was a fitting and deserving end for the tournament’s most consistent and well-structured side.
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