Melbourne Stars side boasting Australia skipper Meg Lanning and several England internationals was bundled out for just 29 runs against Adelaide Strikers in the fourth match of WBBL 2023, recording the lowest score in the women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) history.

The previous low in the Twenty20 competition’s eight seasons was the 66 posted by both Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes in 2017.

Chasing Adelaide Strikers’ 177, Melbourne Stars’ innings lasted just 57 legal deliveries. No batter from the Stars managed to reach double figures against rampant defending WBBL champions, who won by a crushing 148 runs.

“Everyone kept saying ‘this is ridiculous, what’s happening’,” said Strikers skipper Tahlia McGrath after the game on Saturday evening at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide.

“It’s still a little bit hard to process.”

Along with Lanning, the Stars’ top order featured fellow Australian Annabel Sutherland, plus England-capped trio Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey and Maia Bouchier.

Megan Schutt and Amanda-Jade Wellington both grabbed three wickets each with Zimbabwe leg-spinner Anesu Mushangwe taking two.

Melbourne Stars’ skipper Meg Lanning invited the Strikers to bat first, but the decision backfired as Katie Mack and Laura Wolvaardt raised 135 runs for the first wicket.

Both openers were then dismissed in the same over by Sophie Day.

Wolvaardt departed after scoring 47 off 36, while Katie Mack, who scored 86 off 50, got out stumped two balls later.

Sophie Day claimed another wicket to finish with figures of 3-24 in her four overs.

However, Adelaide Strikers managed to post 177 on board despite Day’s performance.

The two teams will square off again in the eighth match of WBBL on October 24 in Melbourne.

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