Sutherland Shines as Melbourne Stars Win WBBL|12

Melbourne Stars defeated Hobart Hurricanes by 18 runs in the opening match of WBBL|12, thanks to a stellar performance by Annabel Sutherland, who scored 57 runs from 36 deliveries and took 3-34 from her four overs, Cricket Australia reported.

Sutherland's impressive display came after she handed over the captaincy to Meg Lanning, allowing her to focus on her game.

She shared a 109-run stand with Lanning and played a crucial role in restricting Hurricanes to a total that Stars could chase down.

Sutherland had taken over as Stars captain two seasons ago but stepped down due to her heavy workload with the Stars and the national side.

She will be crucial to Stars' success this season, especially with Marizanne Kapp's departure.

Sutherland's form has been impressive, with a Big Bash average of 24.97 and strike rate of 114.56 from 46 innings.

She was crowned player of the tournament at the UK's Hundred in August and carried that form into the ODIs against Bangladesh.

The Stars will play three matches in five days to begin the season, starting with a match against Adelaide Strikers on Saturday night.

Sutherland emphasized the importance of carrying on the momentum from their first-up win.

Background

The Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) is a professional women's Twenty20 cricket league in Australia, featuring eight teams.

The league has gained popularity since its inception in 2016 and has provided a platform for women's cricketers to showcase their skills.

What's Next

The Melbourne Stars will look to continue their winning momentum against Adelaide Strikers on Saturday night, followed by a match against Perth Scorchers on Melbourne Cup eve.

Sutherland's form will be crucial to their success, especially with the busy schedule ahead.