Anika Learoyd hit 48 and Georgia Voll claimed four wickets as Sydney Thunder began their WBBL campaign with a six-wicket win over Melbourne Renegades in the season opener at Junction Oval. Set 139, Thunder reached their target with three overs to spare.

Voll finished with 4 for 26 and also played a part in inflicting Nicole Faltum’s run-out, leading to a late collapse in which Renegades lost five wickets for two runs in the space of seven balls. Hayley Matthews had given the hosts a brisk start with 45, but they were held to 138/9. In reply, Learoyd, batting at No. 3, put on 62 with Heather Knight for the third wicket to take the game away, before Knight (29*) and Nadine de Klerk finished the chase.

Brief scores: Melbourne Renegades 138/9 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 45; Georgia Voll 4-26) lost to Sydney Thunder 140/4 in 17 overs (Anika Learoyd 48, Heather Knight 29*; Tayla Vlaeminck 2-23) by six wickets

Melbourne Stars opened their WBBL campaign with an 18-run win over defending champions Hobart Hurricanes at the Junction Oval, with Meg Lanning and Annabel Sutherland setting up the victory with quick half-centuries. Lanning made 71 off 52 balls and Sutherland a rapid 57 off 26 as the pair added 109 off only 66 balls for the third wicket to lift the Stars to 192/4.

Hurricanes were well placed at 103/2 at the halfway mark, thanks to a 33-ball 57 from Lizelle Lee but the chase lost momentum when Charlotte Dean came on to bowl. She conceded only 13 runs in her four overs and picked the key wicket of Heather Graham in the 15th over. Nicola Carey kept them in the hunt with 32 before Sutherland cleaned up the tail to finish with 3 for 34 as the Hurricanes ended on 174/8.

Brief scores: Melbourne Stars 192/4 in 20 overs (Meg Lanning 71, Annabel Sutherland 57; Heather Graham 2-31) beat Hobart Hurricanes 174/8 in 20 overs (Lizelle Lee 57; Annabel Sutherland 3-34) by 18 runs.