Derby delight for Stars at the CitiPower Centre

The Player: Captain Meg Lanning was the star of the show, carrying her bat through the innings as she finished with an unbeaten 67* from 49 deliveries. Lanning found the rope on six occasions, being rewarded for her shots thanks to the quick outfield at the CitiPower Centre, before launching the final ball of the innings over the off-side for six. The skipper was in fine form after recently announcing her retirement from international cricket, racking up her third half century of WBBL|09.

The Moment: The game ultimately turned back in the Stars’ favour when Annabel Sutherland removed Hayley Matthews and Sarah Coyte on consecutive deliveries in the 18th over, finishing with figures of 4-22 from her four overs as she proved the difference against the Renegades.

The Result: After being sent in to bat, skipper Meg Lanning was joined by Maia Bouchier at the top of the order, with the pair getting off to a busy start to see the Stars 1/38 after six overs. 

Picking up where they left off after a 45-run stand against the Thunder, Lanning and Alice Capsey laid the foundation for the Stars’ innings, putting on 48 for the second wicket. 

Capsey got creative with her stroke play, making use of multiple reverse sweeps and laps, before it ultimately proved her downfall as she was dismissed for 23 in the 12th over. 

Sitting at 2/90 after 13 overs, star duo Lanning and Sutherland called for the power surge, with the pair taking 10 runs from each of the two overs to lift the side to 2/110 with five overs remaining.

Sutherland’s quickfire 24 from 16 balls saw two maximums launched over the rope, with a great turnout from the local crowd being entertained by their star hitters on a fine Sunday afternoon in Melbourne, as Lanning’s knock guided the Stars to 5/144. 

With her parents making the trip from Ireland, Kim Garth struck with the second ball of the innings, setting the tone early, before Sutherland struck with the next two wickets, including an almost unplayable delivery to remove Tammy Beaumont on the stroke of drinks. 

Needing 60 runs from 42 balls, the Renegades took the power surge, with Sutherland capturing the big wicket of Harmanpreet Kaur in the 14th over as wicket keeper Sophie Reid secured the edge behind the stumps. 

With 14 runs to defend, Sasha Moloney saw the Stars home in the final over of the match, recording a four run win to claim bragging rights over the Renegades in the Melbourne Derby. 

Stars teammates Sophie Day and Annabel Sutherland now share the title of BKT Golden Arm leader after each extending their tally to 19 wickets to date in WBBL|09. 

The Stars will host the Hobart Hurricanes at Allan Border Field on Friday.