Sydney Sixers return to top of WBBL table with victory over Melbourne Stars

Star allrounder Ashleigh Gardner delivered a player of the match-winning performance, scoring 28 runs (17 balls) and taking four wickets (4 for 27)

Melbourne: Sydney Sixers 160-9, Melbourne Stars 115 – Sydney Sixers won by 45 runs

Scorecard

Sydney Sixers completed a routine 45-run win over Melbourne Stars to return to the top of the Women's Big Bash table.

Charlotte Edwards' side made a nightmare start to their innings, losing Suzie Bates (1) in the opening over, but a steady 31 (28) from fellow opener Alyssa Healy kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Following the departure of Ellyse Perry in the fifth over, the middle order kicked into gear, with Ashleigh Gardner (28 off 17), Erin Burns (25 off 20), Nicole Bolton (23 off 15) and Sophie Ecclestone (22 off 13) all chipping in with brisk knocks to carry the Sixers to 160 for 9 at close.

^{Kim Garth picked up two wickets and top-scored with the bat for Melbourne Stars [Daniel Pockett/Getty Images]}

Kim Garth was the standout bowler for the Stars, picking up 2 for 9 from her three overs, while there were also wickets for Sasha Moloney, Annabel Sutherland and Sophie Day.

Chasing 161, the Stars had few answers to the Sixers’ bowling attack, with a 27-run second-wicket stand between Jemimah Rodrigues and Alice Capsey their most productive partnership and Garth top-scoring with 18 (21).

Gardner was once again at the heart of the action for the Sixers, picking up 4 for 27 as well as chipping in with two catches, while Lauren Cheatle (2 for 19) also collected multiple wickets.

Ecclestone (1 for 18), Perry (1 for 18), Nicole Bolton (1 for 17) and Burns (1 for 4) shared the remaining wickets as the Stars were all out for 115.

Sydney Sixers have now won three of their past five matches and lead second-placed Brisbane Heat by one point. Melbourne Stars lie sixth, with two wins from nine matches and a seven-point gulf between themselves and fourth-placed Perth Scorchers.