A record-breaking century from Meg Lanning and a fiery four-wicket burst from Kim Garth propelled the Melbourne Stars to a dominant victory over the Sydney Sixers in Match 17 of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2025 at North Sydney Oval. The Stars produced a complete performance, first piling up a massive total and then dismantling the Sixers’ batting lineup to secure a resounding win.
Meg Lanning leads Melbourne Stars to mammoth total
Melbourne Stars posted a towering 219/4 in their 20 overs, thanks to a breathtaking innings from former Australian captain Lanning. The right-hander delivered a masterclass in strokeplay, hammering 135 off just 74 balls, laced with 22 fours and 4 sixes. From the moment she walked in, Lanning looked in supreme touch, dominating every bowler and sending the North Sydney Oval crowd into a frenzy with her fluent stroke-making.
Lanning found strong support from Rhys McKenna, who played the perfect second fiddle with a composed 50 off 34 deliveries. Their powerful partnership helped Stars maintain momentum throughout the innings, ensuring the Sixers were left chasing an imposing target.
Rain drama and revised chase unravel Sydney Sixers
The Sydney Sixers’ response began in disastrous fashion, slumping to 21/4 inside the first four overs. Their top order fell apart under pressure as Stars’ bowlers kept the lines tight and fielders backed them up with sharp efforts.
Just as the collapse began, rain interrupted play briefly. After the break, the match was reduced to 10 overs with a revised target of 154, meaning the Sixers required an improbable 133 runs off the remaining six overs. The equation became even steeper, leaving Sixers with the challenging task of going all-out from ball one.
However, the chase never took off. The pressure of the DLS-adjusted target combined with disciplined bowling saw the Sixers crumble further. They were eventually skittled out for a mere 42 in 7.4 overs, completing a forgettable outing with the bat.
Kim Garth shines with sensational spell
Ireland-born pacer Garth delivered one of the finest spells of the tournament, finishing with astonishing figures of 4/3 in just two overs, including a maiden. She exploited the conditions expertly, moving the ball both ways and troubling every batter who faced her. Garth’s spell broke the backbone of the Sixers’ lineup and ensured there was no path to recovery. Her accuracy, swing, and control under pressure played a pivotal role in sealing the Stars’ emphatic victory. For her blistering century that set up the match, Lanning was rightly adjudged the Player of the Match.
Second lowest score in the history of WBBL 🏏#WBBL #MelbourneStars pic.twitter.com/4mAdCXQN7g
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) November 20, 2025
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
