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Match Report:

Scorecard

Thunder hold off Stars for key win

Sydney Thunder defend a below-par total to remain in second spot on the WBBL table

The Sydney Thunder have moved to within one point of heading the Rebel WBBL ladder after notching a hard-fought five-run victory over the Melbourne Stars.

Nicola Carey was instrumental on Sunday with both bat (39no) and ball (2-22) to earn player-of-the-match honours, as the Thunder posted 6-122 before limiting the Stars to 9-117 at Bankstown Oval.

With the Stars requiring 13 off the last six deliveries, Carey kept her composure with a fine death over, the Stars' bid for victory falling just short.

After South African Lizelle Lee was trapped lbw for 12, the visitors looked solid at 1-69 before a 5-17 collapse sabotaged their chase.

Carey's cameo propels Thunder

 

West Indian Stafanie Taylor's brilliance in the field helped to turn the match the Thunder's way, firstly running out Ange Reakes (33) with a direct hit with one peg to aim at, before snaring an acrobatic return catch to get rid of Mignon du Preez (25).

Wrist spinner Maisy Gibson (3-22) proved a handful in conditions where batting wasn't always easy after early-morning showers and an onslaught of hail and lightning which curtailed Saturday's encounter.

With the bat, Carey gave the home side plenty of impetus after an early stop-start in their innings.

Taylor's direct hit captures key wicket

 

Rachael Haynes (18) and Rachel Priest (12) made starts and Naomi Stalenberg survived two dropped chances en route to a measured 21.

Carey and teenager Rachel Trenaman (12no) put on a crucial unbeaten 50 off 31 balls for the seventh wicket to lift the Thunder from a precarious 6-73 in the 15th over to a respectable total which proved beyond the Stars.

"I did get dropped early on so I was pretty grateful for that," Carey said.

"I was pretty rusty, I haven't batted for some time in a game but really happy to get some runs and get us to a decent total."