WBBL08 match preview: Melbourne Stars v Brisbane Heat

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 WBBL

What's the match?

Melbourne Stars take on Brisbane Heat in match 55 of the WBBL; the eighth edition of the tournament.

When is it taking place?

The game is scheduled to start at 2pm local time (3am GMT) on Sunday, November 20.

Where is the match being played?

The game will be played in Moe at the Ted Summerton Reserve.

Who's got the form?

Brisbane Heat are sitting pretty in second position in the table and with a three-point cushion over fifth-placed Perth Scorchers, they are assured of a spot in the knockout stages. The Heat have won eight maches from a possible 13 but have lost two of their past three.

Melbourne Stars are out of contention for a top-four finish but are looking to end their tournament on a high. The Stars have won three of their past four matches and could finish as high as fifth - quite the turnaround for a side who picked up just one point from their first four matches.

When the two sides met earlier in the competition - way back in mid-October - Brisbane Heat held on for a nine-run win.

^{Amelia Kerr has been a strong performer with bat and ball for Brisbane Heat [Chris Hyde/Getty Images]}

What's the key match-up?

Annabel Sutherland has been the all-round star for the Stars, scoring 304 runs at a strike rate of 113.85 and taking a team-leading 21 wickets. Alice Capsey (259 runs) and Lauren Winfield-Hill (232 runs) have also been among the runs while Sasha Moloney (18 wickets) and Kim Garth (11 wickets) have shown form with the ball.

Brisbane Heat have a strong batting core, with Amelia Kerr, Grace Harris, Laura Harris and Georgia Voll all scoring in excess of 200 runs (as has injured wicketkeeper Georgia Redmayne). With the ball, Nicola Hancock, Jess Jonassen and A Kerr have a combined 60 wickets.

But it's their strong top five, which also includes England international Danni Wyatt (154 runs), which could be key in this match, with powerful hitters, perhaps most notably Laura Harris - who is striking at 187.87, coming thick and fast. There will be no rest for Melbourne Stars' bowlers.

What's the weather forecast?

Conditions could be damp across Victoria on Sunday.

What is the team news?

Tess Flintoff (injured) is unavailable for the Stars. Georgia Redmayne remains out with a hamstring injury and has been replaced behind the stumps by Ellie Johnston.

What are the squads?

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

Brisbane Heat: Jess Jonassen, Zoe Cooke (injured, replaced by Lucy Hamilton), Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Mikayla Hinkley, Ellie Johnston, Amelia Kerr, Charli Knott, Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll, Pooja Vastrakar (unavailable), Danni Wyatt, Jess Kerr

What are the possible starting XIs?

Melbourne Stars: Lauren Winfield-Hill, Sophie Reid, Alice Capsey, Annabel Sutherland, Bess Heath, Nicole Faltum, Kim Garth, Sasha Moloney, Una Raymond-Hoey, Rhys McKenna, Sophie Day

Brisbane Heat: Danni Wyatt, Georgia Voll, Grace Harris, Amelia Kerr, Laura Harris, Ellie Johnston, Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Nicola Hancock, Courtney Grace Sippel, Jess Kerr

^{Annabel Sutherland is Melbourne Stars' leading run-scorer and wicket-taker [Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images]}

What are the odds?

Brisbane Heat are available at 4/9 while Melbourne Stars are 7/4.

What's the prediction?

Brisbane Heat are rightly the favourites but can expect a scare from the resurgent Stars. Heat win, just.

Are tickets available?

Standard tickets are available.

Where can I watch the game?

Sky Sports holds the UK rights for the WBBL. This game will be shown on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event. Coverage of the competition resumes on November 18.

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.