Hobart Hurricanes 5 for 164 (Tryon 46*, Fazackerley 46) beat Melbourne Stars 9 for 144 (Osborne 40, Gibson 3-26, Vakarewa 3-27) by 20 runs
Hobart Hurricanes went on a recruiting drive after consecutive last-place finishes in the last two WBBL seasons, and it has paid early dividends as a host of their new arrivals helped concoct a comfortable 20-run victory over Melbourne Stars at Junction Oval to start the new season.
The Hurricanes unveiled six new recruits against the Stars and three of them had a huge impact.
South Africa allrounder Chloe Tryon played a stunning innings, smashing 46 not out from just 18 deliveries, to turn what was looking like an under-par total into a significant score of 5 for 164.
Former Sydney Thunder pair of Belinda Vakarewa and Maisy Gibson then combined to run through the Stars highly-experienced top order.
Vakarewa pinned new Stars captain Elyse Villani lbw for a first-ball duck in the opening over the of the chase and then clean bowled Emma Inglis in the third over. Gibson undid Mignon du Preez with a lovely flighted legbreak as she was bowled trying advance down the track. The pair combined next ball to dismiss Katey Martin, who swept Gibson straight to Vakarewa at short-fine leg to leave the Stars’ chase in tatters at 4 for 36 in five overs.
It was Tryon’s innings that was the difference in the game. She entered with the Hurricanes at 5 for 101 with just 27 balls left in the innings. The Hurricanes raced out of the blocks reaching 1 for 50 in the seventh over. Erin Fazackerly showed her immense talent at the top of the order with some exceptional striking. She was particularly savage giving herself room to thrash balls through the offside. But she ran out partner Heather Knight with a strange piece of calling, stranding the England star as Chloe Rafferty produced a classy direct hit, before holing out for 46 from 33 balls as the Hurricanes’ innings stalled.
But Tryon covered those mistakes with some incredible hitting. She smashed three sixes and four fours. The South African was helped by some really poor bowling. A number of her boundaries came via loopy full tosses as the Stars lost control of their lengths in the death overs.
Tryon and Fran Wilson combined for an unbeaten 63-run stand from the last 4.3 overs to ensure the Stars needed more than 8 per over in the chase.
The four early wickets made the task even tougher as the Hurricanes bowlers and fielders produced a very disciplined display. The pressure mounted on Lizelle Lee who eventually succumbed trying to lift Knight ambitiously over deep midwicket into the strong wind.
The task was too tough from there for the Stars but there was a shining light. Tess Flintoff, 16, outdid Phoebe Litchfield‘s debut innings last night for the Thunder making a composed and very skilful 34 not out from 21 balls. Erin Osborne also contributed 40 but they fell 20 runs short.