Sydney Thunder Women vs Melbourne Stars Women, WBBL T20 2021, Today Match Prediction

sytw vs mlsw Match Prediction & Analysis

We are into the 22nd game of the Women’s Big Bash League 2021 and here the Sydney Thunder Women have their task cut out. The side comes here with another loss against the Melbourne Renegades Women and must win this one to stay alive. Melbourne Stars Women too had a bad day in the last game as they lost against the Hobart Hurricanes Women. 

Sydney Thunder Women haven’t won a single game in the tournament, and this would add to the pressure on the side. Their batting has looked in poor shape and they need to make a quick recovery in this game. Melbourne Stars Women have looked a much better team and it will be interesting to see if they can win this one and move up on the points table. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Sydney Thunder Women Preview

Hannah Darlington’s side finds itself in deep trouble in the middle of the tournament. They haven’t won a game yet and come here with a 9-run loss against the Melbourne Renegades Women. It was their best performance of the season yet but not enough to take them over the finishing line. They must fight it hard in the middle and come up with a better show in this game. 

Smriti Mandhana showed good form in the last game and the side would need a good start from her and opening partner Tahlia Wilson. The middle-order is out of form and the side would need runs from Phoebe Litchfield, Corinne Hall, and Anika Learoyd. The likes of Deepti Sharma, Isabelle Wong, and Lauren Smith must contribute down the order considering the form at the top. 

Samantha Bates has been a good performer with the ball for the side, but she would need support from Wong with the new ball. Deepti Sharma has been using her experience well, but the side would expect tighter spells from the likes of Kate Peterson, Lauren Smith, and Hannah Darlington in this game.

Sydney Thunder Women Predicted Playing XI:

Hannah Darlington (c), Tahlia Wilson (wk), Smriti Mandhana, Phoebe Litchfield, Corinne Hall, Anika Learoyd, Deepti Sharma, Lauren Smith, Isabelle Wong, Kate Peterson, Samantha Bates

Sydney Thunder Women Actual Playing XI:

Smriti Mandhana, Lauren Smith, Phoebe Litchfield, Deepti Sharma, Corinne Hall, Hannah Darlington, Sammy Jo Johnson, Tahlia Wilson, Issy Wong, Samantha Bates, kate Peterson

Melbourne Stars Women Preview

Meg Lanning’s side has been on and off with its form so far in the season. They have won two games and lost the remaining four and went down against Hobart Hurricanes Women in their last game by 6 wickets. The side would take confidence from their earlier win against the Sydney Thunder and shall aim for a strong show in this game and move up on the points table. 

Elyse Villani and Annabel Sutherland are getting starts but the side would need them to convert them into big scores in this game. The middle-order looks good with Maia Bouchier and Kim Garth scoring runs in the last game and they would look to set up partnerships with Meg Lanning in this game. Erin Osborne, Nicole Faltum, and Tess Flintoff can hit the ball hard and add solidity to their batting. 

Their bowlers performed poorly in the last game and the side would like to see tighter spells from Kim Garth and Linsey Smith in this game. Annabel Sutherland and Sophie Day would look forward to keeping the scoring under check in the middle overs. Flintoff and Osborne add to the bowling options for the side.

Melbourne Stars Women Predicted Playing XI:

Meg Lanning (c), Elyse Villani, Annabel Sutherland, Maia Bouchier, Kim Garth, Erin Osborne, Nicole Faltum (wk), Tess Flintoff, Maddy Darke, Linsey Smith, Sophie Day

Melbourne Stars Women Actual Playing XI:

Meg Lanning, Tess Flintoff, Nicole Faltum, Maddy Darke, Erin Osborne, Sophie Day, Maia Bouchier, Elyse Villani, Linsey Smith, Kim Garth, Annabel Sutherland

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

Launceston would see partly cloudy skies on October 30, and this would make batting a challenge at the start of the game. Batters shall have to play to the merit of the ball and can’t hit their way out. The side batting first would be happy to put up a score of 150 or more on this wicket.

Venue Details

Aurora Stadium, Launceston is a small ground and batters have always scored runs in boundaries here.  There is a patch of grass on the surface, and this provides early assistance for fast bowlers. Spinners have struggled here in the past as there isn’t much assistance for them on this wicket.

Toss: To Bowl

This is a venue where the sides have mostly preferred to chase scores. Batting first is a challenge as there is assistance for the bowlers at the start of the game. The two sides would have this in mind at the toss and the side winning is likely to opt for bowling first.