Match 4 of the Women’s T20 Spring Challenge 2026 will feature Sydney Thunder face-off against Melbourne Stars. The game is scheduled for 9:00 AM IST on 11th of October 2026, at Hurstville Oval, Sydney. In the inaugural edition last summer, Sydney Thunder settled for the 6th spot on the points table with two wins from 4 games, while Stars finished at the bottom, 9th, with a winless campaign.
Squads:
Sydney Thunder Women’s Cricket Team
Laura Harris, Heather Knight, Anika Learoyd, Samantha Bates, Kate McTaggart, Lucy Finn, Hasrat Gill, Tara French, Nicola Hancock, Alexandra Mavros, Tahlia Wilson (WK), Jemma Barsby, Hannah Darlington, Emily Powell, Eva Ragg
Melbourne Stars Women’s Cricket Team
Sophie Day, Charlie Dean, Kim Garth, Danielle Gibson, Maisy Gibson, Amy Jones, Meg Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Indigo Noble, Georgia Prestwidge, Zoe Samuel, Annabel Sutherland
Players to watch out:
Laura Harris
The 36-year-old top-order batter amassed 77 runs, at a strike rate of 202.63, from 4 outings last edition, and registered the highest of 48*. Laura comes into this season on the back of T20 and T10 competitions from Caribbean Premier League to Canada Super60 League, producing several cameos.
Hasrat Gill
The 20-year-old emerging all-rounder from 3 innings added 20 runs to the tally and claimed 3 wickets from 4 outings in the 2025 Spring Challenge. Gill had a quiet start to this season, managing only 13 runs and 0/11 (3) in a one-day fixture. The team will turn to her to step up in the T20 fixtures ahead, proving her mettle last summer.
Meg Lanning
The 34-year-old top-order batter scored 124 runs, from 4 outings, at an average of 31.00 and a strike rate of 118.09, last summer. Lanning comes into this season on the back of a lot of T20 and franchise action, featuring in the Caribbean Premier League and The Hundred. The seasoned batter has hardly ever struggled for runs, trusted for more this summer.
Sophie Day
The 28-year-old all-rounder in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) has scalped 77 wickets, including the best of 5/25, from 67 Innings, maintaining an economy rate of 6.95. Sophie claimed a wicket in her only appearance, in a 50-over game, leading into this competition, expected to lead the bowling attack.
Pitch:
The Hurstville Oval provides a good batting deck, with an average score in the 160s. However, the wicket poses a formidable challenge for batters throughout the game due to its lively nature, especially against pacers.
Weather:
The temperature is forecast to hover around 18°C, with humidity at 70% and moderate winds. If the skies don’t clear, expect rain delays and interruptions, with scattered thundershowers on the radar.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Laura Harris, Anika Learoyd, Sophie Day, Kim Garth, Meg Lanning, Hannah Darlington, Tahlia Wilson, Hasrat Gill, Nicola Hancock, Samantha Bates, Rhys McKenna
Match Details:
Date – October 12, 2026
Time – 9:00 AM IST
Venue – Hurstville Oval, Sydney
Broadcast – Cricket.com.au.