In an impressive display at the North Sydney Oval in Sydney, Brisbane Heat Women completely outplayed Melbourne Stars Women in the 11th match of the T20 Spring Challenge for 2025–26. With both their batting and bowling firing on all, the Heat secured a convincing victory by 63 runs.
Choosing to bat first, the Heat approached their innings with determination. The openers played cautiously initially, but key contributions later in the innings changed the game’s tempo. Skipper Charli Knott fell early, scoring just 10 runs as she attempted to stabilise the start. After that, Lucy Bourke stepped up, making 36 runs off 33 balls, while Georgia Redmayne, the wicketkeeper-batter, added a vital 42 runs from 33 balls to help steady the ship.
Together, they built a solid partnership that took the score from a shaky 34 for 2 to a more respectable 77 for 3. With a strong foundation laid, the Heat accelerated in the latter half, with Nicola Hancock’s brisk 35* runs off just 23 balls providing valuable momentum. Other batters also chipped in, including Sianna Ginger with 10 runs and Annie O’Neil with 8 runs, leading the Heat to finish their innings at 154 for 6 in 20 overs, a strong total given the conditions.
While the Stars’ bowlers had their moments, the Heat’s partnerships and quick scoring made a significant impact. Sasha Moloney performed well for the Stars, taking 2 wickets for 20 runs in her 4 overs, striking an impressive economy rate of 5.00. Georgia Prestwidge also took 2 wickets, finishing with figures of 2 for 25 from 3 overs. However, the remaining bowlers struggled, with Sophie Day going for 33 runs in 3 overs and Ira Aery conceding 18 runs in 2 overs without taking a wicket.
Chasing a target of 155, the Stars never really found their footing. Early wickets, a lack of partnerships, and relentless pressure from the Heat’s bowlers put the Stars firmly on the back foot. They were ultimately bowled out for just 91 runs in 18.4 overs. From the start, their batting fell apart; Rhys McKenna went for 4 runs off just 2 balls, while key players like Meg Lanning and Sophie Reid were dismissed for ducks, leaving the Stars scrambling.
No partnership gained any momentum, and the team struggled to rotate the strike and hit boundaries effectively. The middle-order led a fightback, with Mia Perrin (11), Sasha Moloney (10), Ines McKeon (14) and Ella Hayward (33), reviving hopes but never got the required acceleration and were bundled out for 91/10 in 18.4 falling as many as 63 short of the required.
In the second innings, the Heat’s bowlers were unforgiving. Lucy Hamilton stood out, taking 4 wickets for only 8 runs, including the final wicket that sealed the victory for the Heat. Her pressing bowling, particularly towards the end of the innings, stifled any hopes of a Stars recovery. Charli Knott and Lily Bassningthwaighte were economical and struck a wicket each, while Clodagh Ryall also bowled tightly, taking 1 wicket for just 5 runs. Collectively, the Heat’s bowlers maintained disciplined lines and exploited the conditions to perfection.
The pivotal moments in the match came from the Heat’s middle-order recovery and sharp late innings. The partnership between Bourke and Redmayne shifted the game from a tricky start to a strong platform, with Hancock’s late cameo adding the final flourish. In contrast, the Stars’ inability to build partnerships and their quick fall of wickets dashed any chances for a comeback.
