Danni Wyatt-Hodge struck 71 and Molly Strano bagged 5-16 as the top-ranked Hobart Hurricanes trounced the second-placed Melbourne Stars at Bellerive Oval.
Match Report:
ScorecardHurricanes stay top of WBBL after shooting down Stars
The Hobart Hurricanes have reinforced their standing as the team to beat in the WBBL, bolstering their grip on first spot with an 81-run demolition of the Melbourne Stars on DLS method at Bellerive Oval.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge's classy 71 paced the Hurricanes' imposing 4-176 from 17 rain-reduced overs in the top-of-the-table blockbuster on Monday night, before Molly Strano (5-16) reduced the Stars to a paltry 98 in response, after they were set an adjusted target of 180.
Wyatt-Hodge moved past Meg Lanning to the head of the Golden Bat standings with her fourth half-century of the season, before pouching three catches.
The English anchor started slowly with two off her first 11 deliveries, before blossoming in her 47-ball knock.
"Sometimes you've just got to ride that wave and Lizzy (Lee) was smashing it at the other end, so I didn't need to panic," Wyatt-Hodge said.
"It was just a matter of digging in, keeping the intent and staying brave.
"Hopefully we can keep the form up - everyone's playing really well."
Hard-hitting South African Lizelle Lee was the early aggressor, but a 33-minute rain delay stalled her momentum and she holed out for 32 just after the resumption.
Nat Sciver-Brunt (31) found Danielle Gibson in the deep, before captain Elyse Villani was run out late.
Melbourne started horribly in reply and never recovered as their four-game winning streak came to a crashing halt, with tail-ender Sasha Moloney (31) offering the only resistance.
Rhys McKenna (1) was trapped plumb in front by a hooping Nicola Carey inswinger, before Linsey Smith (2-29) captured the key scalp of Lanning (9), bowled after missing a cut shot.
Smith dismissed Stars skipper Annabel Sutherland (11), before fellow spinner Molly Strano came on and bagged three wickets in her first over.
Wyatt-Hodge snared a left-handed blinder at point to remove Amy Jones (19), before Marizanne Kapp (0) was caught behind and Gibson (1) holed out.
Strano then picked up a fourth wicket with just her seventh ball when Kim Garth (3) offered Wyatt-Hodge another catch.
The offspinner's fifth scalp was Moloney, caught by player of the match Wyatt-Hodge.
Weber WBBL|11 Standings
| Team | M | W | L | T | N/R | NRR | Ded. | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
HUR
|
10 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.662 | 0 | 15 |
|
2
SIX
|
10 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | -0.313 | 0 | 13 |
|
3
SCO
|
10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -0.132 | 0 | 12 |
|
4
STA
|
10 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0.629 | 0 | 11 |
|
5
REN
|
10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.121 | 0 | 10 |
|
6
STR
|
10 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0.077 | 0 | 9 |
|
7
THU
|
10 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | -0.124 | 0 | 9 |
|
8
HEA
|
10 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | -0.869 | 0 | 1 |
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
N/R: No results
NRR: Net Run Rate
Ded.: Deductions
PTS: Total points