Stars claim thrilling victory in WBBL|09 opener

The Player: Stars skipper Meg Lanning lit up North Sydney Oval, returning to the top of the order in style on Thursday night. Blasting the first six of WBBL|09 over midwicket, Lanning survived an early DRS scare after making use of an effective review. The star batter took 14 runs off the third over, taking the Stars to a commanding position at 0/31 after the powerplay, eventually departing for 55 from 34 deliveries. 

The Moment:  As it often is in T20 cricket, the 19th over once again proved pivotal as Annabel Sutherland claimed the huge scalp of Ashleigh Gardner to provide the Stars with a spark, before removing Maitlan Brown just three deliveries later as the game came right down to the wire. The Stars’ WBBL|08 Player of the Tournament claimed 4-27 from her four overs, backing up her knock of 34 to secure victory for the Stars. 

The Result: The Stars kicked off their WBBL|09 campaign with a thrilling win in Sydney, claiming a two-run victory over last season’s runner up, the Sydney Sixers. 

Following Lanning’s half century, an important 43 run partnership between Annabel Sutherland and Maia Bouchier guided the Stars through the middle overs as they reached 165. 

Regular wickets early in the second innings allowed the Stars to control the flow of the game as the Sixers’ required run rate continued to grow despite some late resistance from Gardner and Brown. 

Kim Garth produced a maiden in the opening over, while Sutherland led the way with the ball, claiming four wickets.  

The Stars will head to South Australia to take on the Strikers at Karen Rolton Oval on Saturday.