The 22nd 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 Saturday.
Toss
Sydney Thunder won the toss and opted to bat first.
Playing XI
Melbourne Stars: Elyse Villani, Meg Lanning (c), Annabel Sutherland, Maia Bouchier, Kim Garth, Erin Osborne, Nicole Faltum (wk), Tess Flintoff, Maddy Darke, Linsey Smith, Sophie Day
Sydney Thunder: Smriti Mandhana, Tahlia Wilson (wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Corinne Hall, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Deepti Sharma, Hannah Darlington (c), Lauren Smith, Isabelle Wong, Kate Peterson, Samantha Bates
1st innings Sydney Thunder 133-5 in 20 overs
Batting first, Sydney Thunder posted a respectable score of 133-5 in 20 overs, riding on opening bat Tahlia Wilson’s stellar half-century. The wicket-keeper bat scored a run ball 53, smashing five boundaries in her innings. Phoebe Litchfield too made a useful contribution of 49 off 43 balls, including seven boundaries. Wilson and Litchfield put together 81 runs for the second wicket after losing Smriti Mandhana (3) cheaply in the third over. Towards the end, southpaw Deepti Sharma scored 16 off 14 balls, hitting two boundaries. For Melbourne Stars, Erin Osborne was the top performer with the ball as she accounted for 2-25 in her four over. Kimberley Garth was the other bowler who struck with one wicket.
2nd innings Melbourne Stars 114-8 in 20 overs
In reply, Melbourne Stars managed to score 114-8 in 20 overs, falling short of 19 runs. Opening bat Ellyse Villani top scored with 38 runs off 31 balls, hitting five boundaries. Maia Bouchier (20) and Erin Osborne (11) and Tess Flintoff (17) were the other major contributors with the bat. For Sydney Thunder, right arm off-spinner Deepti Sharma was the pick of the bowlers as she scalped 3-25 in her four overs. Her spin partner, Samantha Bates, a left-arm orthodox bowler gave her good company as she struck with 2-14 in her four overs. Bates accounted for key wickets of Meg Lanning (2) and Bouchier.
Player of the Match
Sydney Thunder’s Samantha Bates won the player of the match for her brilliant bowling performance of 2-14 in four overs.
Next fixtures
Melbourne Stars will play against Brisbane Heat on October 31 at the Aurora Stadium in Launceston, while Sydney Thunder will lock horns against Hobart Hurricanes on the same date and at the same venue.
Brief Score
Sydney Thunder 133-5 in 20 overs (T Wilson 53; E Osborne 2-25) beat Melbourne Stars 114-8 in 20 overs (E Villani 38; D Sharma 3-25) by 19 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.