Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Adelaide have defied the absence of their two premier seam bowlers to make a sparkling start to their WBBL campaign, defeating the Melbourne Stars by 21 runs.
After posting a formidable 2-185 at Karen Rolton Oval on Saturday, the Strikers, who were without Megan Schutt (suspended for a prescription medication breach) and Darcie Brown (back), held the Stars to 7-164.
With Adelaide’s pace aces sidelined, legspinner Amanda Jade-Wellington (3-28), seamer Eleanor Larosa (2-23) and left-arm orthodox tweaker Sophie Ecclestone (2-25) stepped up to cut the visitors down.
Melbourne’s chase started strongly, with Rhys McKenna (40) and captain Meg Lanning (32) putting on 77 for the first wicket, before Wellington sparked a collapse.
She trapped Lanning lbw, then dismissed Amy Jones (two) thanks to England star Ecclestone’s one-handed hanger at mid-off.
Wellington removed Annabel Sutherland (29), skying a reverse-sweep to Maia Bouchier, before Eccleston got rid of Naomi Stalenberg (32) to end the Stars’ resistance.
“So pleased for the girls to get that first win and start our season well here,” Wellington told Fox Cricket.
“I feel like those two players (Schutt and Brown) are massive for our team.
“We went out there and showed what we can do without those girls.”
Earlier, Laura Wolvaardt’s class and Madeline Penna’s power carried the Strikers to their equal second-highest score.
South African Wolvaardt (70), skipper Tahlia McGrath (43 not out) and Penna (36no off 13 balls) were the mainstays of Adelaide’s imposing innings.
England international Bouchier (30), playing her against her old team, looked solid in her first game in Strikers colours before spooning a return catch to Annabel Sutherland.
Sutherland then took a fine diving catch at mid-off to dismiss Wolvaardt, who had put on 82 for the second wicket with McGrath.
Penna clubbed four fours and three sixes in her whirlwind cameo that left the Stars gasping, as Adelaide blasted 76 off the last five overs, including 42 from the last two.
