Adelaide Strikers and Perth Scorchers opened their Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2026 campaigns with victories on Saturday, October 31, defeating Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades, respectively.
Laura Wolvaardt scored 70 and Amanda-Jade Wellington claimed three wickets as Adelaide Strikers secured a 21-run victory over Melbourne Stars. Meanwhile, Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine guided Perth Scorchers to a dominant nine-wicket win against Melbourne Renegades at the WACA Ground.
The Strikers successfully defended 185 for 2, while the Scorchers chased down a target of 137 in just 13.3 overs.
Adelaide Strikers Post 185/2 Against Melbourne Stars
Adelaide Strikers delivered an impressive batting performance after being asked to bat first, reaching 185 for 2 from their 20 overs. South African opener Laura Wolvaardt led the innings with 70 from 50 deliveries, including nine boundaries.
She received valuable support from Maia Bouchier, who scored 30 from 21 balls. The opening pair added 54 runs before Annabel Sutherland dismissed Bouchier in the seventh over.
Wolvaardt continued to anchor the innings, helping Adelaide maintain a strong scoring rate through the middle overs. She was eventually dismissed by Kim Garth in the 18th over, leaving captain Tahlia McGrath and Madeline Penna to finish the innings.
McGrath remained unbeaten on 43 from 36 deliveries, while Penna produced an explosive 36 not out from 13 balls, striking four fours and three sixes.
The Strikers added 42 runs across the final two overs to finish on 185 for 2.
Amanda-Jade Wellington Takes Three Wickets as Stars Fall Short
Melbourne Stars made a promising start to their chase, with Meg Lanning and Rhys McKenna putting together a 77-run opening partnership. Lanning scored 32 from 24 balls, while McKenna contributed 40 from 31 deliveries. However, Wellington changed the direction of the match in the ninth over by dismissing Lanning and bowling Amy Jones for two within four deliveries.
The double breakthrough disrupted Melbourne’s progress and allowed Adelaide to regain control.
McKenna remained the Stars’ leading scorer, while Naomi Stalenberg added 32 from 25 balls.
Despite their contributions, the visitors struggled to maintain the required scoring rate as wickets fell regularly. Wellington finished with figures of 3 for 28, while Sophie Ecclestone took 2 for 25 and Eleanor Larosa claimed 2 for 23.
Melbourne Stars closed their innings on 164 for 7, giving Adelaide Strikers a 21-run victory.
Speaking after the match, Wellington praised the team’s performance despite the absence of Megan Schutt and Darcie Brown.
“So pleased for the girls to get that first win and start our season well here,” Wellington said.
“We went out there and showed what we can do without those girls.”
Melbourne Renegades Recover From 20/4 to Reach 136/6
In Perth, Melbourne Renegades endured a difficult start after being asked to bat against Perth Scorchers. The visitors lost four wickets for just 20 runs inside the first six overs, with Chloe Ainsworth taking two early wickets.
At the halfway stage, Renegades had reached only 45 for 4, leaving Georgia Wareham and Nicole Faltum with the responsibility of rebuilding the innings.
The pair initially focused on stabilising the innings before accelerating during the final overs. Wareham struck a six off Alana King in the 15th over and followed it with several boundaries, reaching her half-century from 33 deliveries.
She eventually scored 62 from 39 balls, including eight fours.
Faltum contributed 48 from 49 deliveries before being bowled by Fatima Sana in the final over.
The Renegades added 55 runs in the last five overs to finish on 136 for 6.
Ainsworth returned figures of 2 for 22, while Sana claimed 2 for 27.
Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine Seal Nine-Wicket Victory
Perth Scorchers suffered an early setback in their chase when Katie Mack was dismissed by Tayla Vlaeminck for nine from 11 deliveries. However, Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine quickly took control.
Mooney struck three boundaries in an over from Milly Illingworth, while Devine contributed attacking strokes against Sophie Molineux.
The Scorchers passed 50 in the sixth over and reached 93 for 1 after ten overs.
Mooney brought up her half-century from 35 deliveries, striking two boundaries off Deandra Dottin in the 12th over. She remained unbeaten on 58 from 40 balls, while Devine scored 47 not out from 32 deliveries.
The pair shared an unbeaten second-wicket partnership that carried Perth to victory, with Devine striking consecutive sixes off Wareham to finish the chase.
Scorchers reached 138 for 1 in 13.3 overs, winning by nine wickets with 39 deliveries remaining.
WBBL 2026: Match Results and Scores
Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Adelaide Strikers | 185/2 (20 overs) |
| Melbourne Stars | 164/7 (20 overs) |
Result: Adelaide Strikers won by 21 runs.
Leading batters: Laura Wolvaardt 70, Tahlia McGrath 43*, Madeline Penna 36*; Rhys McKenna 40, Meg Lanning 32.
Leading bowler: Amanda-Jade Wellington 3/28.
Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Renegades
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Melbourne Renegades | 136/6 (20 overs) |
| Perth Scorchers | 138/1 (13.3 overs) |
Result: Perth Scorchers won by nine wickets with 39 balls remaining.
Leading batters: Georgia Wareham 62, Nicole Faltum 48; Beth Mooney 58*, Sophie Devine 47*.
Leading bowlers: Chloe Ainsworth 2/22, Fatima Sana 2/27.
Strikers and Scorchers Make Winning Starts to WBBL 2026
Both Adelaide Strikers and Perth Scorchers began their campaigns with convincing performances, although their victories came in different circumstances. Adelaide relied on Wolvaardt’s half-century, Penna’s late acceleration and Wellington’s decisive spell to defend 185 against Melbourne Stars.
Perth combined early wickets with an aggressive batting display from Mooney and Devine to complete a comfortable chase against Melbourne Renegades.
The results gave both teams a positive start to the WBBL 2026 season, while the two Melbourne sides were left searching for improvements after their respective defeats.
