WBBL 2024: Yastika Bhatia’s Composed Half-Century Leads Melbourne Stars To Comprehensive Win

In the 12th match of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL 2024) at Junction Oval, Melbourne, the Hobart Hurricanes elected to bat first against the Melbourne Stars.

Marizanne Kapp Strikes Early

The Hobart Hurricanes found themselves in trouble right from the outset, with Marizanne Kapp making an immediate impact by dismissing Lizelle Lee for just 4 in the first over. Lee, looking to get the team off to a quick start, found herself caught by Maisy Gibson, leaving the Hurricanes with an early setback.

The pressure mounted quickly as, in the second over, Kim Garth struck to remove Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who had started with a quick boundary but was bowled out on her second ball. These early blows reduced the Hurricanes to a concerning 8/2 within two overs, putting their middle order under significant pressure to stabilize the innings.

Nicola Carey Steps Up

With their top-order faltering, Nicola Carey stepped up to guide the innings back on track. Displaying patience and composure, Carey paced her innings well, focusing on rotating the strike and playing risk-free cricket.

She scored 44 off 43 deliveries, which included two boundaries and a six, building a foundation to enable a potential recovery. Elyse Villani attempted to support Carey but could not convert her start, falling for 11 off 16 balls as she was caught by McKeon off the bowling of Deepti Sharma. With Villani’s departure at 26/3, the Hurricanes were again in a precarious position.

Carey found an able partner in Chloe Tryon, who provided some much-needed aggression to the Hurricanes’ innings. Together, Carey and Tryon constructed a vital 50-run partnership that offered stability and a glimmer of hope for a competitive total. Tryon scored a gritty 35 off 33 balls, striking one four and one six, and took on the responsibility of accelerating the scoring when possible. This partnership allowed the Hurricanes to cross the 100-run mark, shifting some momentum in their favour.

However, as the innings approached its final phase, the Hurricanes’ recovery began to wane. Tryon was stumped by Yastika Bhatia off Sophie Day’s bowling, breaking the momentum they had built. Carey followed soon after, falling to Tess Flintoff’s accurate delivery, which exposed the Hurricanes’ lower order in the closing overs.

Kathryn Bryce managed a quick 11 off 5 balls, showcasing some late hitting to push the score, but the Hurricanes ultimately finished on a modest 133/7 after their 20 overs. Their inability to accelerate in the death overs, compounded by regular wickets, limited their total and left them with a below-par score.

Stars’ Day With The Ball

The Stars’ bowling unit played a crucial role in restricting the Hurricanes, with Marizanne Kapp and Kim Garth leading from the front. Both picked up two wickets apiece and kept the Hurricanes under pressure throughout.

Kapp’s opening spell set the tone, while Garth maintained the pressure in the middle overs. Deepti Sharma, Tess Flintoff, and Sophie Day each contributed with a wicket, helping the Stars keep the Hurricanes’ batters in check and preventing any significant partnerships from flourishing beyond Carey and Tryon’s stand. The disciplined bowling effort ensured that the Hurricanes were always on the back foot, never truly managing to break free and build a large total.

Yastika Bhatia Delivers Yet Again

The Melbourne Stars approached their chase of 134 with a clear plan, and openers Yastika Bhatia and Ines McKeon provided a steady start, navigating the powerplay with caution and precision. Though runs came at a modest pace, the duo ensured they avoided early risks, setting a stable foundation and reaching 26/0 after the initial overs.

However, Heather Graham, who had been consistently probing with her line and length, found a breakthrough for the Hurricanes. McKeon attempted to push the scoring rate but mistimed a shot, resulting in her dismissal and providing the Hurricanes with a glimmer of hope at 26/1.

Yastika Bhatia, undeterred by the loss of her opening partner, continued to anchor the innings, showing maturity and skill as she consistently found gaps in the field. Her timing was exquisite, as she rotated the strike with ease and pounced on loose deliveries.

Bhatia’s impressive knock of 57 off 46 balls showcased her control and adaptability; she struck seven boundaries and one powerful six that sailed over the boundary, sending a clear message that she was set on guiding her team to victory. Reaching her half-century in just 41 balls, Bhatia’s innings kept the required run rate in check and added confidence to the Stars’ chase.

Meg Lanning And Yastika Bhatia Stitch A Crucial Partnership

Captain Meg Lanning joined Bhatia at the crease, and the pair put together a valuable partnership, mixing controlled aggression with quick singles and doubles. Lanning contributed a quick 27 from 21 balls, complementing Bhatia’s well-paced knock with some deft strokes of her own. The pair’s partnership kept the scoreboard moving and the Hurricanes’ bowlers under pressure. However, just as the duo seemed poised to accelerate, Lanning fell to Nicola Carey, giving the Hurricanes a brief opportunity to make further inroads.

By the time Bhatia was dismissed by Graham, the Stars were comfortably placed at 99/3, needing only 35 runs from just over six overs. With a solid foundation set and plenty of wickets in hand, the Stars had little pressure heading into the final stretch. Annabel Sutherland took charge after Bhatia’s departure, playing a smart and controlled innings. Her unbeaten 26 off 20 balls included a mix of powerful drives and quick singles, keeping the momentum firmly with the Stars.

Marizanne Kapp, known for her finishing ability, added 15 runs off 11 balls with a few quick boundaries, ensuring there was no room for a last-minute comeback from the Hurricanes. Together, Sutherland and Kapp brought the chase home with composure, sealing the win with 13 balls to spare and clinching a seven-wicket victory.

Bhatia’s steady and impactful innings earned her the Player of the Match award, as she anchored the chase with both finesse and patience. The Stars showcased a well-rounded performance with contributions from both their bowling and batting units, underscoring their balanced approach and depth.

This comprehensive win highlighted the team’s effective strategy and resilience, with Bhatia’s knock emerging as the standout performance that laid the foundation for their victory.

Brief Scores WBBL 2024: Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes – Match 12 

Hobart Hurricanes 133/7 in 20 overs (Nicola Carey 44, Chloe Tryon 35; Marizanne Kapp 2/28, Kim Garth 2/21) lost to Melbourne Stars 136/3 in 17.5 overs (Yastika Bhatia 57, Meg Lanning 27; Heather Graham 2/30) by 7 wickets.

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