Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2022 Weber BBL
Melbourne Stars take on Adelaide Strikers in match 30 of the WBBL; the eighth edition of the tournament.
The game is scheduled to start at 10am local time (2am BST) on Saturday, November 5.
The Lilac Hill Park in Perth is set to stage this match.
Adelaide Strikers bounced back after losing their first two games to climb the table, winning the next four in a row. But their winning streak was ended by the out-of-form Stars earlier this week.
Katie Mack has performed well at the top of the order, scoring 47 in her two most recent innings.
Laura Wolvaardt provides stability batting at three, scoring slowly but allowing others to bat around her. Their hitting towards the end of the innings has been superb this year, with Bridgett Paterson and Madeline Penna scoring quick, valuable runs at the death.
One area of concern with their batting would be the form of Deandra Dottin. The big-hitting opener has passed 50 once this season at just over a run-a-ball and has failed to make a meaningful impact in her other knocks.
The Strikers' bowlers need to forget about the last match where they struggled to stem the flow of runs. Megan Schutt and Darcie Brown have bowled well in the powerplay, taking crucial early wickets. Amanda-Jade Wellington has continued taking wickets in the middle overs and Dottin found some form with the ball in the last match, taking 2 for 34.
Stars are slowly turning their tournament around. After losing the first three games, they now have had two wins and two no results from the last four. They look like a team revived, having won the Melbourne derby last week and beaten the Strikers in the past week.
Tess Flintoff was the star of last match, smashing a 16-ball half-century and taking a wicket. Laura Winfield-Hill has impressed, but her partner Jemimah Rodrigues is yet to make double figures this season. The Stars will be encouraged by Alice Capsey, who scored 49 off 31 balls against Strikers to make a timely return to form.
The Stars' bowlers have had a mixed tournament so far, but Sasha Moloney's incredible 4 for 24 in the last time out will inspire confidence. Kim Garth has also bowled well at the top but others need to be more economical in the middle overs.
Deandra Dottin (Jenny Evans/Getty Images)
The last time the two sides met was on Wednesday (November 2) when Stars beat the Strikers by 22 runs.
An exciting match-up will be how Brown and Schutt bowl to the Stars’ top order. Despite bowling well this year, they leaked runs, courtesy of Winfield-Hill and Capsey.
After laying siege on the Strikers' attack, Stars may look to send Flintoff in earlier.
The Strikers openers will have to change their approach to Moloney who accounted for both Dottin and Mack.
The weather is forecasted to rain with temperatures around eight degrees Celsius.
Tahlia McGrath is out with a back issue and is replaced by Ella Wilson. Megan Schutt is set to captain in her absence.
Stars have named an unchanged squad for the matches in Perth.
Melbourne Stars: Meg Lanning (unavailable - personal reasons), Alice Capsey, Lucy Cripps, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum (c), Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Rhys McKenna, Sasha Moloney, Sophie Reid, Jemimah Rodrigues, Annabel Sutherland, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Hasrat Gill, Olivia Henry
Adelaide Strikers: Megan Schutt (c), Jemma Barsby, Darcie Brown, Deandra Dottin, Katie Mack, Tegan McPharlin (wk), Anesu Mushangwe, Annie O’Neil, Bridget Patterson, Madeline Penna, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Ella Wilson, Laura Wolvaardt
Melbourne Stars: Jemimah Rodrigues, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Alice Capsey, Sophie Reid, Annabel Sutherland, Nicole Faltum, Sasha Moloney, Tess Flintoff, Rhys McKenna, Sophie Day, Kim Garth
Adelaide Strikers: Deandra Dottin, Katie Mack, Laura Wolvaardt, Ella Wilson, Bridget Patterson, Madeline Penna, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tegan McPharlin, Jemma Barsby, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown
Tess Flintoff (Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Strikers are favourites at 4/6. The bookies have Stars to win at 7/5.
Strikers should be expected to bounce back from defeat. Stars, winners in mid-week, should make it more than competitive.
Entry to Lilac Hill Park is free of charge.
Sky Sports holds the UK rights for the WBBL. This game will be shown on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event.
In Australia, fans will be able to watch all 59 matches in the WBBL live and free on either the Seven Network or cricket.com.au
A total of 24 games will be televised on free-to-air on Seven and simulcast on Foxtel and Kayo, while the remaining 35 games will be shown on Foxtel and Kayo Sports and also live-streamed for free on cricket.com.au.
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