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The much-anticipated Women’s Big Bash League 2023 commenced with a thrilling encounter between Sydney Sixers Women and Melbourne Stars Women at the North Sydney Oval. Sydney Sixers Women won the toss and chose to bowl, setting the stage for an exciting battle between bat and ball.
Meg Lanning shines with the bat
In the first innings, Melbourne Stars Women put up a competitive total of 165/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The batting effort was led by captain Meg Lanning, who played a crucial knock of 55 runs off 34 deliveries, featuring 8 fours and 1 six. She found support in Annabel Sutherland, who contributed 34 runs off 22 balls, including 3 fours and 1 six.
Other notable contributions came from Maia Bouchier (25 off 16) and Sophia Dunkley (10 off 12). The Stars’ innings also saw some valuable lower-order runs, with Alice Capsey adding 13 runs to the total. In the bowling department, Lauren Cheatle was the pick of the bowlers for Sydney Sixers Women, claiming 2 wickets for 37 runs in her 4 overs.
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Annabel Sutherland takes Melbourne to a thrilling win
Chasing a target of 166 for victory, Sydney Sixers Women came close but fell just short, finishing at 163/9 in their 20 overs. The highlight of their innings was an explosive performance by Ashleigh Gardner, who smashed 72 runs from 44 balls, featuring 9 fours and 2 sixes.
However, the rest of the batting order struggled to build partnerships, with no one else reaching the 20-run mark. Annabel Sutherland was the star for Melbourne Stars Women with the ball, claiming an impressive 4 wickets for 27 runs in her 4 overs, putting the Sixers under pressure. In a nail-biting finish, Melbourne Stars Women managed to defend their total by a margin of just 2 runs.
This thrilling encounter marked an exciting start to the Women’s Big Bash League 2023, showcasing the competitive spirit and talent of the women’s cricket teams.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
