Sydney Thunder defeat Melbourne Stars to clinch second WBBL title

Shabnim Ismail (2-12) and Sammy-Jo Johnson (2-11) played a key part in the victory, taking two wickets each as Melbourne Stars were restricted to 86 for 9 in their 20 overs

North Sydney Oval: Melbourne Stars 89-9 v Sydney Thunder 87-3 - Sydney Thunder won by seven wickets

Sydney Thunder have clinched their second WBBL crown after defeating Melbourne Stars by seven wickets in a low-scoring final at North Sydney Oval.

Shabnim Ismail (2-12) and Sammy-Jo Johnson (2-11) played a key part in the victory, taking two wickets each as Melbourne Stars were restricted to 86 for 9 in their 20 overs. There was also a wicket each for Sam Bates, Hannah Darlington, Lauren Smith and Knight.

Stars - the team who topped the league table and were playing in their first WBBL final - struggled to get going with the bat and found themselves 37 for 5 in the 11th over. An unbeaten 22 from England’s Katherine Brunt wasn’t enough to save her side from posting the lowest WBBL final total – scoring fewer than Perth Scorchers’ 99 all out in 2018.

Annabel Sutherland (20), Meg Lanning (13) and Natalie Sciver (11) were the only other players to reach double figures.

Low targets bring with them enormous pressure. Thunder’s leading run-scorer and England captain Heather Knight top-scored for the Sydney side, striking an unbeaten 26 off 19 balls – hitting two fours and a six. Rachel Trenaman (23) and Thunder captain Rachael Haynes (21 not out) helped to see their side over the line.

Thunder managed to avoid a potential banana skin, getting home with 38 balls to spare losing only three wickets.

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