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
Sydney Thunder face Melbourne Stars in match 14 of the WBBL; the eighth edition of the tournament.
The game is scheduled to start at 10.40am local time (3.40am BST) on Sunday, October 22.
The WACA in Perth is set to stage this match.
Sydney Thunder finally got their first WBBL win of the campaign at the fourth time of asking, a credible 25-run victory over defending champions Perth Scorchers.
However, Melbourne Stars are yet to get off the mark. They were narrowly beaten by Brisbane Heat in their opening game, before losing to Sydney Sixers by 27 runs.
Last time out, they set Scorchers 111 to win at the WACA and reduced them to 74 for 7 in the 16th over.
But Piepa Cleary hit 15 from 13 balls to guide them home by two wickets with two balls to spare.
Melbourne Stars' Alice Capsey (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
All eyes will be on Lauren Smith again after her eye-catching performance against Scorchers.
Her figures of 5 for 17 were the fourth-best in WBBL history and the best by any Thunder player in the eight editions of the competition.
There have been few bright spots for the Stars but they'll be looking to Lauren Winfield-Hill to get them off to a good start with the bat.
Though the England batter's form has tailed off of late, she kicked off the WBBL with a crisp 74 off 51 balls.
Annabel Sutherland has been useful with bat and ball, scoring 45, 8 and 31 with the bat and taking two wickets in each of her last outings.
Rain looms around Perth in the afternoon but it is not expected to start until 1pm. It should allow for a complete game, even if all 40 overs are not possible.
Hannah Darlington hasn't featured for Thunder in the WBBL due to a knee injury which is not expected to clear up until the second half of the competition.
Stars have named an unchanged squad from their defeat to Scorchers last time out.
Sydney Thunder: Rachael Haynes (c), Sam Bates, Tammy Beaumont, Jess Davidson, Saskia Horley, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Amy Jones, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Olivia Porter, Lauren Smith, Lea Tahuhu, Belinda Vakarewa, Tahlia Wilson
Melbourne Stars: Jemimah Rodrigues, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Alice Capsey, Sophie Reid, Annabel Sutherland, Nicole Faltum, Sasha Moloney, Tess Flintoff, Rhys McKenna, Sophie Day
Sydney Thunder: Tammy Beaumont, Phoebe Litchfield, Rachael Haynes, Amy Jones, Tahlia Wilson, Anika Learoyd, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Lea Tahuhu, Lauren Smith, Belinda Vakarewa, Samantha Bates
Melbourne Stars: Jemimah Rodrigues, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Alice Capsey, Sophie Reid, Annabel Sutherland, Nicole Faltum, Sasha Moloney, Tess Flintoff, Rhys McKenna, Sophie Day
Lauren Smith (left) and Olivia Porter (right) (James Worsfold/Getty Images)
The bookmakers can barely separate these two sides, with Thunder 5/6 and Stars 10/11 for the win.
With their winless run gone, Thunder are favourites here over Stars whose own desperate start looks set to continue.
Yes. Tickets are priced at $10 for adults, $5 for concessions and free for children (under 15 years) and can be purchased on Ticketek.
Sky Sports holds the UK rights for the WBBL. This game will be shown on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 9am (BST).
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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