Lanning and Sutherland Power Stars to 18-Run WBBL Win Over Hurricanes

Melbourne Stars made a winning start to the Women's Big Bash League season on Thursday, beating Hobart Hurricanes by 18 runs in the second match of the opening double-header at Junction Oval. After Hobart chose to field first, the Stars built a commanding total of 192 for 4 from their twenty overs, built around a composed 71 from 52 balls by captain Meg Lanning. Annabel Sutherland then added a powerful 57 from 36 deliveries, striking five fours and two sixes, while Dani Gibson chipped in with a quick 22 from 11 balls to push the total beyond Hobart's reach. Hobart's reply stayed alive for much of the chase thanks to Lizelle Lee, who struck 57 from 33 balls with six fours and three sixes. But the Stars kept taking wickets at key moments: Kim Garth removed Chamari Athapaththu cheaply and later dismissed Lee, caught by Lanning, to break the back of the chase. Nicola Carey added 32 from 25 balls and Heather Graham scored 20, yet the required rate kept climbing as the Stars controlled the closing overs. Charlie Dean bowled a miserly spell, conceding just 13 runs from four overs, while Sutherland completed her all-round performance with three wickets for 34 runs and was named Player of the Match. Hobart finished on 174 for 8, eighteen runs short, as the Stars began their season with a statement win over the defending champions.