Heading into Match 12 of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2026, the Sydney Sixers sit proudly at the summit of the points table. With two wins from two matches and a dominant net run rate of +2.250, they have looked every bit the early title contenders. On the other side of the ledger, the Melbourne Stars find themselves down in fifth place with two points from three outings. Having dropped their previous encounter against the Perth Scorchers, the Stars are desperate to spark some momentum and climb out of the mid-table scramble.
Squads:
Melbourne Stars Women’s Cricket Team
Meg Lanning (C), Sophie Day, Charlie Dean, Kim Garth, Dani Gibson, Maisy Gibson, Amy Jones, Carly Leeson, Rhys McKenna, Indigo Noble, Georgia Prestwidge, Zoe Samuel, Naomi Stalenberg, Annabel Sutherland
Sydney Sixers Women’s Cricket Team
Ashleigh Gardner (C), Caoimhe Bray, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Alice Capsey, Lauren Cheatle, Sarah Coyte, Sophia Dunkley, Ashleigh Gardner, Elsa Hunter, Amelia Kerr, Grace Lyons, Frankie Nicklin, Ellyse Perry, Eva Ragg, Courtney Sippel
Players to watch out:
Ashleigh Gardner
Sydney Sixers skipper Ashleigh Gardner has hit the ground running this season, producing match-winning returns with both bat and ball. Across her first two outings, Gardner has amassed 126 runs at an extraordinary strike rate of 196.87, headlined by a destructive knock of 124. Her off-spin has been equally effective, yielding 5 wickets at a tight economy rate of 6.85 and best figures of 3/23, reaffirming her status as one of the competition’s premier match-winners.
Caoimhe Bray
Young Sydney Sixers all-rounder Caoimhe Bray continues to show maturity beyond her years with her disciplined pace bowling. Over her opening 2 matches, the teenage talent has delivered 8 overs for a return of 3 wickets at an average of 18.00 and an economy of 6.75. Her finest effort so far came with a tidy spell of 2/14, providing her side with crucial control during the middle overs.
Meg Lanning
Melbourne Stars captain Meg Lanning has provided her side with trademark solidity at the top of the order. In her 3 innings so far, the veteran batter has compiled 144 runs at an average of 48.00 and a strike rate of 128.57. Highlighting her early-season consistency, Lanning notched a top score of 71 while hitting 19 boundaries and a six to keep the Stars’ batting engine room humming.
Maisy Gibson
Melbourne Stars leg-spinner Maisy Gibson has proven to be a vital wicket-taking option through the middle phase of the innings. Having featured in 3 matches, Gibson has captured 4 wickets while bowling 7 overs, maintaining an average of 11.50 and an economy rate of 6.57. Her best bowling figures of 2/10 demonstrate her ability to restrict scoring and break key partnerships under pressure.
Pitch:
The pitch at Junction Oval in Melbourne traditionally leans toward a balanced track that offers fair assistance to both batters and bowlers. Early on, seamers can extract movement with the new ball, while spinners come into play as the game progresses, making application at the crease key to building a competitive total.
Weather:
The forecast indicates mostly cloudy skies during the day with a high temperature of 21°C and a low of 10°C, alongside light west-to-southwest winds around 8 mph. Conditions turn toward light rain and a higher chance of precipitation heading into the night, accompanied by humidity.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Meg Lanning, Charlie Dean, Kim Garth, Dani Gibson, Maisy Gibson, Amy Jones, Ashleigh Gardner, Caoimhe Bray, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Alice Capsey
Match Details:
Date – November 06, 2026
Time – 1:40 PM IST
Venue – Junction Oval, Melbourne
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the JioStar app and website.