Adelaide: Adelaide Strikers made a sparkling start to their WBBL campaign on Saturday, defeating Melbourne Stars by 21 runs at Karen Rolton Oval despite being without their two premier seam bowlers.
The Strikers posted a formidable 185 for 2 from their 20 overs, then held the Stars to 164 for 7 in reply, a win built on a classy top order, a brutal finish and a disciplined spin-led bowling effort. It was a statement opening win for a side that had to defy the absence of Megan Schutt, suspended for a prescription medication breach, and Darcie Brown, sidelined with a back injury.
Laura Wolvaardt set the tone in her 100th WBBL outing, striking 70 off 50 balls with nine boundaries to anchor the innings, before Maddie Penna provided the fireworks at the death. Penna smashed an unbeaten 36 off just 13 deliveries, clubbing four fours and three sixes, as Adelaide plundered 76 runs off the last five overs — including 42 from the final two — to reach a total that always looked above par. Maia Bouchier contributed 30 off 21 in support, and the Strikers’ 185 for 2 was their equal second-highest WBBL score.
The Stars’ chase never quite found the required tempo against a bowling attack that adapted superbly to the missing quicks. Leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington led the way with 3 for 28, seamer Eleanor Larosa took 2 for 23 and left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone claimed 2 for 25, cutting the visitors down just as they threatened to accelerate. Rhys McKenna top-scored for the Stars with 40 off 31 balls and Annabel Sutherland, who earlier produced a stunning catch to dismiss Wolvaardt, made 29, but Melbourne finished 21 runs short on 164 for 7.
For the Stars, it was a second match of the season and a first defeat after their opening win, while the Strikers banked two points from their first outing and moved into the early top half of the table. The result also underlined Adelaide’s depth: without Schutt and Brown, their spin trio and a late batting surge proved more than enough on a good Karen Rolton Oval surface.
The WBBL season, which began on October 29 and runs to December 5, continues through the weekend, with the defending champions Hobart Hurricanes among the sides in action and the Sydney Sixers opening their home campaign on Sunday evening.
Read our WBBL season guide here: https://t20star.com/wbbl-2026-27-full-schedule-squads-new-rules-and-players-to-watch-as-season-starts-october-29/
Brief scores: Adelaide Strikers Women 185/2 (Laura Wolvaardt 70, Maddie Penna 36*; Maia Bouchier 30) beat Melbourne Stars Women 164/7 (Rhys McKenna 40, Annabel Sutherland 29; Amanda-Jade Wellington 3-28, Eleanor Larosa 2-23, Sophie Ecclestone 2-25) by 21 runs.
