Melbourne Stars destroyed in costly WBBL result
Oliver Caffrey |
The Melbourne Stars have suffered a costly WBBL loss just before finals as Sydney Thunder captain Phoebe Litchfield dominated a rain-affected encounter.
Unable to reach the finals, the Thunder destroyed the title-contending Stars by nine wickets in their last game of the tournament at the Junction Oval in Melbourne on Saturday.
Due to persistent rain, the match was shortened to 10 overs a side as the Stars managed just 6-66 after being sent in to bat.
Litchfield and fellow Australia young gun Georgia Voll made light work of the DLS-revised target of 76, securing the winning runs with 17 balls to spare.
With just 11 runs needed and rain starting to fall again, Litchfield attempted one big shot too many and was out to Annabel Sutherland for a destructive 37 from 23 balls.
Voll was untroubled by losing her opening partner, making an unbeaten 33 from 18 balls.
Fellow big-hitter Laura Harris smashed the winning runs with a reverse ramp for four.
Voll also chimed in with 2-13 to be named player of the match.
“Had a bit of a stinker of a competition so it’s nice to be able to finish off with a win with the girls, but to contribute as well right at the end was nice,” Voll told Fox Cricket.
The defeat is bound to have serious ramifications for the Stars, who entered the match placed second on the ladder.
The Hobart Hurricanes are locked in to host the final on December 13 as minor premiers, but the other three spots in the four remain up for grabs.
The Stars will wait nervously on other results, with Perth Scorchers hosting the winless Brisbane Heat on Saturday night.
If the Scorchers, as expected, win they will jump ahead of the Stars into second.
In the last game before finals, the Sydney Sixers can also overtake the Stars if they beat the Adelaide Strikers at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.
The Thunder will finish the tournament in seventh, winning four of their 10 games.
AAP
