The 17th match of the seventh edition of Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) was played between Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder at the Aurora Stadium in Launceston on Monday.
Toss
Melbourne Stars won the toss and opted to bat first.
Playing XI
Melbourne Stars: Elyse Villani, Annabel Sutherland, Meg Lanning (c), Maia Bouchier, Kim Garth, Erin Osborne, Nicole Faltum (wk), Tess Flintoff, Maddy Darke, Linsey Smith, Sophie Day
Sydney Thunder: Tahlia Wilson (wk), Smriti Mandhana, Phoebe Litchfield, Corinne Hall, Anika Learoyd, Deepti Sharma, Hannah Darlington (c), Lauren Smith, Isabelle Wong, Kate Peterson, Samantha Bates
1st innings Melbourne Stars 108-7 in 20 overs
Batting first, Melbourne Stars posted a modest 108-7 in 20 overs, riding on opening bat Ellyse Villani’s scintillating half-century. The right-hand bat smashed 52 off 63 balls, including three boundaries. Apart from Villani, middle-order bat Maia Bouchier was the other top contributor with the bat. The right hand bat mustered 31 runs off 28 balls, hitting four boundaries. For Sydney Thunder, Isabelle Wong was the pick of the bowlers as she scalped 2-19 in her four overs.
2nd innings Sydney Thunder 96-5 in 20 overs
In reply, Sydney Thunder could only manage to score 96-5 in 20 overs, losing the match by just 12 runs. Sydney Thunder were struggling at 4-12, when Deepti Sharma and Anika Learoyd (21) joined forces to consolidate the innings. The duo put together 42 runs for the fifth wicket. After Learoyd departed, skipper Hannah Darlington walked in to bat, scoring an unbeaten 17 off 15 balls, including one boundary. Sharma was the top run-scorer for Sydney Thunder slamming 44 not out off 48 balls, peppering the boundary rope four times. For Melbourne Stars, the opening bowler Kimberley Garth struck with 3-11 in her four overs.
Player of the Match
Melbourne Stars’ Kimberley Garth won the player of the match for her brilliant bowling performance (3-11 in 4 overs).
Next fixtures
Melbourne Stars will play against Hobart Hurricanes on October 27 at the Aurora Stadium in Launceston, while Sydney Thunder will lock horns against Melbourne Renegades on October 27 at the same venue.
Brief Score
Melbourne Stars 108-7 in 20 overs (E Villani 52; Wong 2-19) beat Sydney Thunder 96-5 in 20 overs (D Sharma 44 not out; K Garth 3-11) by 12 runs.
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.
