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Thunder salutes in Sydney clash

Sydney Thunder turned the tables on crosstown rivals Sydney Sixers

A scintillating Naomi Stalenberg knock has pushed the Sydney Thunder two points clear at the top of the Rebel WBBL ladder after a roof problem delayed play by an hour.

Players were forced from the field in warm-up before play after a panel was dislodged in heavy winds, but then Stalenberg did most of the damage for the visitors in her 41-ball 48 to chase down the Sixers' 113 in 19 overs.

After the Thunder fell to 3-21 in the sixth over, the former Australian Twenty20 batter took control of the innings before she drove superbly in her highest T20 score that included five fours and two sixes.

Match highlights: Thunder turn table on Sixers

Rene Farrell and Stafanie Taylor then helped the Thunder to victory with six balls to spare, after Indian star Harmanpreet Kaur had earlier hit 27 from 23 balls.

Only seamer Sarah Aley kept the Sixers in the match, after she started her spell with two wicket maidens and later removed the dangerous Stalenberg.

Aley, who made her Australian debut aged 33 last year, finished with 3-11 from her four overs but still couldn't stop her side from dropping down to fourth on the ladder with five games to play, and only ahead of Perth on net run-rate.

Earlier, spinner Samantha Bates claimed 3-21 as the Sixers regularly lost wickets throughout their innings with Ellyse Perry (25) and Sara McGlashan (23) the sole batters showing a little resistance.