Hobart Hurricanes Women will take on Melbourne Stars Women in the second match of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2026 at Junction Oval in Melbourne on Thursday, October 29. Both teams will aim to begin their campaign with a victory, with several experienced international players expected to play important roles.
Hobart Hurricanes Women enter the contest with a strong squad featuring Lizelle Lee, Chamari Athapaththu, Nicola Carey and Heather Graham. Melbourne Stars Women will rely on the experience of Meg Lanning, Annabel Sutherland, Kim Garth and Amy Jones.
Match Prediction: Hobart Hurricanes Women to win. The Hurricanes are our predicted winners, although the outcome will depend on their performance on the day.
Match Details
Match: Melbourne Stars Women vs Hobart Hurricanes Women
Tournament: Women’s Big Bash League 2026
Date: October 29, 2026
Time: 1:40 PM IST
Venue: Junction Oval, Melbourne, Australia
Format: Women's T20
Prediction: Hobart Hurricanes Women to win
Head-to-Head Record
Hobart Hurricanes Women have a narrow historical advantage over Melbourne Stars Women in their recent recorded T20 meetings.
According to available head-to-head records, Hobart won four of the seven meetings listed since 2022, while Melbourne Stars won three.
Their latest recorded meeting in December 2025 saw Hobart Hurricanes secure an 81-run victory under the DLS method. However, Melbourne Stars also defeated Hobart by 37 runs in November 2025, showing that both teams have the ability to win this contest.
Pitch Report: Junction Oval, Melbourne
Junction Oval generally offers a balanced surface for T20 cricket. Batters can score freely when they settle in, while fast bowlers may find assistance early in the innings. Spinners and slower deliveries could become important as the match progresses.
Historical venue data suggests that the average first-innings score is around 148 runs, although conditions and current pitch preparation can influence the actual total.
A first-innings score in the region of 150–165 could provide a competitive target, depending on the conditions. The toss winner will need to assess the surface before deciding whether to bat or bowl first.
Probable Playing XI
Melbourne Stars Women: Meg Lanning (C), Amy Jones (WK), Rhys McKenna, Charlie Dean, Annabel Sutherland, Dani Gibson, Zoe Samuel, Indigo Noble, Kim Garth, Maisy Gibson, Sophie Day.
Hobart Hurricanes Women: Chamari Athapaththu, Lizelle Lee (WK), Ruth Johnston, Chinelle Henry, Nicola Carey (C), Heather Graham, Rachel Trenaman, Amy Smith, Linsey Smith, Molly Strano, Ella Hayward.
Note: These are probable XIs based on available squad information. Confirmed playing XIs will be announced at the toss.
Players to Watch
Meg Lanning (Melbourne Stars Women): The experienced batter can anchor the innings and provide stability at the top of the order.
Annabel Sutherland (Melbourne Stars Women): Her all-round ability gives the Stars options with both bat and ball.
Lizelle Lee (Hobart Hurricanes Women): The aggressive wicketkeeper-batter can give Hobart a strong start with her attacking approach.
Chamari Athapaththu (Hobart Hurricanes Women): Her top-order batting and all-round contributions could be crucial to the Hurricanes' chances.
Heather Graham (Hobart Hurricanes Women): Her ability to contribute with the ball and lower-order batting makes her an important player.
Match Winner Prediction
Hobart Hurricanes Women are our pick to win this WBBL 2026 encounter. Their combination of experienced international batters and versatile bowling options gives them a competitive lineup.
Melbourne Stars Women, however, have considerable quality through Meg Lanning and Annabel Sutherland. If their top order establishes a strong platform, they could challenge the Hurricanes throughout the match.
Predicted Winner: Hobart Hurricanes Women
This is a pre-match assessment, not a guaranteed result. The toss, final playing XIs and conditions at Junction Oval could influence the outcome.
