Sydney Sixers Girls held their nerve in a nail-biting end to defeat Melbourne Stars Girls by only one run within the 12th match of the Girls’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 12 at Melbourne on November 6, 2026. An unbeaten half-century from Ellyse Perry, supported by Ashleigh Gardner and Erin Burns, helped the Sixers put up a aggressive whole before their bowlers efficiently defended it regardless of a spirited late fightback from the Stars.
After being put under stress early in their innings, the Sydney Sixers wanted a reliable contribution from their skilled campaigners. However, their opening partnership did not final long, as Sophia Dunkley managed only one run from seven deliveries before being dismissed by Sophie Day within the third over, leaving the Sixers at 11/1. Melie Kerr joined Perry on the crease, however her stay was additionally brief, scoring three off four balls before falling to Maisy Gibson. The second wicket arrived at 25 within the fifth over, placing the Sixers under early stress.
Captain Ashleigh Gardner then joined Perry, and the pair introduced much-needed stability to the innings. Perry continued to search out the boundaries while Gardner performed an attacking supporting role, placing one four and two sixes in her 23-ball 34. Their partnership of 67 runs lifted the Sixers from 25/2 to 92/3, placing the innings back on observe. However, Gardner’s dismissal within the 12th over, stumped by Amy Jones off the bowling of Charlie Dean, introduced an finish to the precious stand.
Alice Capsey couldn’t make a significant contribution, managing just three runs from eight deliveries before Annabel Sutherland bowled her within the 14th over. The Sixers had been subsequently decreased to 98/4, however Perry continued to carry one finish collectively. Erin Burns joined her and provided the acceleration required in the course of the closing phases.
The duo added 62 runs for the fifth wicket, taking the rating to 160/5 by the end of 20 overs. Burns contributed a brisk 29 off 21 deliveries, including three fours and a six, before being run out within the closing over. Perry remained unbeaten on 84 from 57 balls, smashing 13 fours and one six at a strike rate of 147.36. Her outstanding innings proved instrumental in taking Sydney Sixers to 160/5, with six extras additionally contributing to the overall.
For Melbourne Stars, Sophie Day, Maisy Gibson, Charlie Dean and Annabel Sutherland claimed one wicket each. Day was economical with figures of 4-0-20-1, while Gibson picked up 1/18 from two overs. Dean returned 1/27 in her four overs, and Sutherland completed with 1/34. Kim Garth conceded 37 runs with out taking a wicket, while Dani Gibson gave away 23 runs in her two overs.
Chasing 161 for victory, Melbourne Stars suffered an immediate setback when Rhys McKenna was bowled by Lauren Cheatle for a duck off the very first supply. Captain Meg Lanning joined Amy Jones, but the Sixers continued to apply stress. Lanning was dismissed for two off six deliveries by Melie Kerr, leaving the Stars at 29/2 after 4.2 overs.
Jones and Annabel Sutherland attempted to rebuild the innings, adding 25 runs for the third wicket. Jones scored a precious 28 off 26 deliveries, including four boundaries, before Frankie Nicklin dismissed her within the ninth over. Sutherland then continued the recovery alongside Naomi Stalenberg, with the pair adding eight runs before Sutherland departed for 22 off 15 balls, having struck two fours and a six. She was caught by Dunkley off Perry’s bowling, leaving Melbourne at 62/4.
Stalenberg and Charlie Dean attempted to steady the chase, however their partnership was reduce short when Stalenberg was run out for 19 from 17 deliveries by way of a combined effort involving Capsey and Kerr. The Stars had been decreased to 97/5 within the thirteenth over. Dean then joined Dani Gibson, and the duo added 37 runs for the sixth wicket, maintaining Melbourne’s hopes alive. However, Gardner struck at a vital moment, dismissing Dean leg-before-wicket for 25 off 21 deliveries.
Dani Gibson took accountability for the chase and produced an aggressive knock of 31 from just 20 balls, including two fours and two sixes. She added 20 runs with Georgia Prestwidge for the seventh wicket before falling to Sarah Coyte within the twentieth over at 154/7. Prestwidge stored the contest alive with an unbeaten 21 off 13 deliveries, while Kim Garth remained not out on one from one ball. Regardless of their efforts, Melbourne Stars completed on 159/7, falling agonisingly short by one run.
Lauren Cheatle led the Sydney Sixers bowling attack with figures of 1/29 from four overs, including a maiden. Melie Kerr (1/21), Ashleigh Gardner (1/37), Ellyse Perry (1/5), Frankie Nicklin (1/10) and Sarah Coyte (1/27) additionally claimed a wicket apiece. Caoimhe Bray conceded 28 runs in three overs with out taking a wicket. Perry’s economical contribution with the ball was notably precious in a intently contested end.
With Ellyse Perry’s match-defining unbeaten 84 and a collective bowling effort under stress, Sydney Sixers Girls secured a memorable one-run victory over Melbourne Stars Girls in WBBL 12. Regardless of the Stars’ decided chase and late contributions from Dani Gibson and Georgia Prestwidge, the Sixers held their composure to defend 160 and declare two precious points within the Girls’s Big Bash League.
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