ONLY two teams played in day three action in the T20 Spring Challenge and the Sydney Thunder were bested by the Melbourne Stars in a comprehensive victory.

Sydney Thunder 9-103 defeated by Melbourne Stars 3-104

The Sydney Thunder were troubled by the bowling attack of the Melbourne Stars. Batting first, Thunder captain Tahlia Wilson (16 off 19 deliveries) got herself off to a good start despite the early wicket of Georgia Voll who got out for a golden duck.

Adding the same score to their total as Wilson, Anika Learoyd faced four more balls which didn’t help the Thunder to accelerate their run rate and trouble the bowlers as a result.

Little resistance was provided by Sydney with Claire Moore (eight off nine), Georgia Adams (zero off two) and Hannah Darlington (five off ten) all out in single digits.

The highest scorer was Ella Briscoe, who scored 32 not out off 31 to get Sydney to a more respectable but predictably a total that would be difficult to defend.

For the Stars, the pick of their bowling attack would have been Hasrat Gill (3/12 off four) and Sasha Moloney (2/11 off two overs). Tess Flintoff, Zoe Samuel and Sophie Day were also economical, all chipping in with a wicket each.

In the chase, it was a pair of young batters that won the game for the Stars. Sophie Reid earned Player of the Match honours for her 46, which was notched up at a strike rate of 158.62.

Reid was unbeaten alongside Flintoff who hit a quick-fire 30 off 19 balls to end the innings. Their efforts were game-winning considering the losses of Meg Lanning for 13, Rhys McKenna for a run-a-ball nine runs and Olivia Henry for zero runs.

No one Thunder bowler stood out with Samantha Bates taking 1/15 off three overs, Jade Allen pitched in with 1/13 off two and Voll got one wicket from two overs conceding 12 runs.