Stars make it two from two

The sun out in force, a home side clean sweep, domination by the captain of Australia and runs galore to keep the healthy crowd up and about throughout the day. The perfect day’s cricket? You bet.

With more than 1,500 rolling through the gates, the carnival atmosphere was on show for all to see on Saturday as the Melbourne Stars made it two wins from two in the first ever fixtures of the Rebel Women’s Big Bash League.

The crowd were out in force in Melbourne

A strong Brisbane Heat outfit proved able contenders but in both matches failed to capitalise on strong starts as the visitors fell short by 20 runs in the first and 10 in the second match; wayward bowling and the absence of one woman batting through the innings proving the decisive factor.

For the Stars, their anchor couldn’t have been anyone other than their captain and run-machine, Meg Lanning, whose measured knocks of 90 and 75 not out steered her side to first innings totals of 156 and 147 respectively. On a batting-friendly deck and lightning-quick outfield, it was always going to be a tough day for the bowlers and so it proved.

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Only the Stars' leg-spinner Alana King returned figures with an economy of less than three, picking up of 1-14 off four in the first match.

Lanning's two half-centuries aside – a feature which is fast becoming the norm in women’s cricket the world over – it was spin that did the damage for the home side.

King's fellow spinners, leggie Kristen Beams and left-arm orthodox Morna Nielsen from New Zealand, picked up three wickets apiece in the first match with Beams adding another two to her tally in the second.

In reply, the Heat rotated through seven bowlers in total in the second match, but failed to make an impact with only Jemma Barsby picking up a wicket to her name.

With bat in hand, a number of Heat players got starts, but none could match Lanning.

Ashes star Jess Jonnassen managed to accumulate 52 not out in the second match, explosive power hitter Grace Harris made scores of 37 and 42, both at a strike rate exceeding 200, and tennis-convert Ash Barty showed why she’s so highly rated with a knock of 39 off 27 in the first.

"It was obviously pretty disappointing," said Brisbane Heat captain Delissa Kimmince at the end of the day’s play.

"Especially bowling to Meg. Once she gets on a roll she’s such a class player and so hard to tie down. It was disappointing and I think we’ve got a lot to work on, but there was great support here. A great crowd and I think that’s what the Big Bash is all about."

Queensland Heat team-mate Barty, who earlier this year made the high profile switch from tennis to cricket and found herself fast-tracked into the WBBL, was equally encouraged by the turnout at the Junction Oval.

"It's fantastic," she said.

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"It's good to see all the kids down here and everyone down enjoying the cricket, but it was disappointing not to get off to a win."

Speaking of her innings in the first match, which included the Heat’s only six – a crunching maximum over long on – Barty said: "I think I'm a little unorthodox really, obviously I haven't had that time to sit down and perfect that technique really, I'm just going out and having a bit of fun."

So there we have it.

Sun, runs, wickets and sixes – and a double dose of the Lanning master class to boot.

History in the making.

Sunday is set to be another belter as Sydney Thunder take on the Sydney Sixers in the first Sydney derby of the season - 2:30pm (AEDT) at the Howell Oval.