The seventh season of Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) kicked off with Melbourne Stars taking on Sydney Sixers at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Thursday. Winning the toss and electing to bowl first, the Sydney Sixers restricted Melbourne Stars to 99-1 in 11 overs. It was a rain-curtailed fixture and both the sides had just 11 overs each to play with.
1st Innings: Melbourne Star: 99/1 (11)
Melbourne Stars’ opening bat Ellyse Villani top-scored with a blistering 54 off just 31 balls and her innings was embellished with five boundaries and a six. Annabel Sutherland, her opening partner scored 14 runs off 19 balls, including one boundary and skipper Meg Lanning chipped in with a 17-ball 23, plundering four boundaries. Sutherland was the only wicket to fall, thanks to Shafali Verma causing the run out. Sydney Sixers used five bowlers, however, it was surprising to see right arm off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner not taking the ball. Gardner had a good outing with the ball against India in the recently concluded multi-format series.
2nd Innings: Sydney Sixers: 100/4 (10.2)
In reply, chasing 100 off 11 overs, Sydney Sixers got off to a flyer, courtesy of Alyssa Healy and Shafali Verma who put together 40 off just 3.5 overs. While trying to hit one out of the park, Verma (8) was clean bowled by Sutherland. Ashleigh Gardner and skipper Ellyse Perry too fell cheaply scoring seven runs each. The Sixers chased down the target in 10.2 overs, winning the match by six wickets. Wicket-keeper bat Healy won the player of the match for her stellar innings of 57 that came off just 27 balls. The swashbuckling bat smashed 11 boundaries in her blistering knock. For the Stars, Kimberley Garth, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Day and Rhys McKenna picked up one wicket apiece.
Sydney Sixers will play their next match against Hobart Hurricanes on October 17, while Melbourne Stars will also take on the same opposition on October 19. Both the matches will be played at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
Brief Score: Melbourne Stars: 99-1 in 11 overs (E Villani 54 not out) lost to Sydney Sixers 100-4 in 10.2 overs (A Healy 57; K Garth 1-16) by six wickets
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.