The success of the Big Bash League (BBL) has transferred to women's cricket, with the WBBL viewership peaking at above 400,000 on Saturday.

In the competition's debut on Network Ten's main channel, a record average of 372,000 viewers tuned in, reaching a high of 439,000, to see the Melbourne Renegades' thrilling final-over victory against cross-town rivals the Stars at the MCG.

The figure is the highest-ever for a women's domestic match, easily topping the 250,000 who watched the Brisbane Heat defeat the Adelaide Strikers in December on Ten's secondary channel, One HD.

Almost 13,000 fans were also inside the MCG by the end of the match, before more than 80,000 saw the two Melbourne men's teams clash.

In comparison, the 50-over men's one-day competition attracted an average national audience of 96,000 this summer, while the A-League is averaging 78,000 viewers on SBS2 and 62,000 on Fox Sports.