Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars Result: Strikers Win by 21 Runs at Karen Rolton Oval
Published on October 31, 2026
Summary Overview: Adelaide Strikers beat Melbourne Stars by 21 runs in WBBL|12 at Karen Rolton Oval. Laura Wolvaardt made 70 off 50 and Madeline Penna smashed 36 off 13 in a total of 185 for 2, then Player of the Match Amanda-Jade Wellington took 3 for 28 to stop the Stars' chase.
Who won? Adelaide Strikers, by 21 runs at Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide. They made 185 for 2, and Melbourne Stars finished on 164 for 7.
Who starred? Leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington took 3 for 28 and was named Player of the Match. Laura Wolvaardt top-scored with 70 off 50, and Madeline Penna hit 36 not out off 13 balls.
How did the Stars lose? They were flying at 77 without loss in the ninth over, then lost Meg Lanning and Amy Jones in the same over to Wellington and never recovered their rhythm.
What does it mean? The Strikers win their opening game, and the Stars suffer their first defeat after beating the champions on opening night.
Match Report: Strikers Post 185, Then Wellington Turns the Chase
For readers new to cricket: in a T20 match, each team bats for up to 20 overs (an over is six legal deliveries). A team wins by runs when it bats first and the other side cannot reach its total. In the WBBL, the batting team also gets a two-over Power Surge, when fewer fielders are allowed outside the circle.
Strikers' Innings: Wolvaardt Builds, Penna Explodes
Stars captain Meg Lanning won the toss and chose to bowl. South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt and England's Maia Bouchier (30 off 21) put on 54 for the first wicket before Annabel Sutherland caught and bowled Bouchier.
Wolvaardt and captain Tahlia McGrath then added 82 off 62 balls. Wolvaardt hit nine fours in 70 off 50 before Kim Garth removed her in the 18th over.
That brought in Madeline Penna, who changed the innings. She hit three sixes and four fours in 36 not out off 13 balls, adding an unbroken 49 off 17 with McGrath (43 not out). The Strikers finished on 185 for 2.
Stars' Chase: A Flying Start, Then the Squeeze
Rhys McKenna (40 off 31) and Lanning (32 off 24) raced to 77 without loss in 8.2 overs, and the Stars were ahead of the rate.
Then Wellington struck twice in one over. She trapped Lanning lbw and had Amy Jones caught by Sophie Ecclestone three balls later, and the Stars were 79 for 2. Ecclestone bowled McKenna, and Wellington had Annabel Sutherland (29 off 19) caught to leave the Stars 124 for 4 in the 15th over.
Seamer Eleanor Larosa then took two wickets in three balls, removing Dani Gibson and bowling Charlie Dean, and the Stars were 127 for 6. Naomi Stalenberg (32 off 25) kept fighting, but the required rate was too high, and the Stars finished 21 short on 164 for 7.
Turning Point: Wellington's Ninth Over
At 77 for 0 after 8.2 overs, the Stars needed 109 from 70 balls with all ten wickets in hand. Wellington removed Lanning and Jones in the same over, and the Stars scored just 47 runs in the next six overs while losing four wickets in all. From there, the Strikers were in control.
Stat Corner
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Performance |
| Amanda-Jade Wellington | Adelaide Strikers | 3 for 28 (4 overs), Player of the Match |
| Laura Wolvaardt | Adelaide Strikers | 70 (50), 9 fours |
| Tahlia McGrath (c) | Adelaide Strikers | 43* (36), 6 fours |
| Madeline Penna | Adelaide Strikers | 36* (13), 4 fours, 3 sixes |
| Sophie Ecclestone | Adelaide Strikers | 2 for 25 (4 overs) |
| Eleanor Larosa | Adelaide Strikers | 2 for 23 (4 overs) |
| Rhys McKenna | Melbourne Stars | 40 (31), 7 fours |
| Meg Lanning (c) | Melbourne Stars | 32 (24), 6 fours |
| Naomi Stalenberg | Melbourne Stars | 32 (25) |
| Kim Garth | Melbourne Stars | 1 for 27 (4 overs), and 13* (9) |
* not out
How the Game Turned
| Moment | Score |
| Wolvaardt and Bouchier stand | 54 for the 1st wicket |
| Wolvaardt and McGrath stand | 82 off 62 balls for the 2nd wicket |
| McGrath and Penna stand | 49* off 17 balls for the 3rd wicket |
| Strikers total | 185 for 2 (20 overs) |
| Stars' flying start | 77 for 0 (8.2 overs) |
| Wellington's double strike | 77 for 0 to 79 for 2 |
| Larosa's two in three balls | 124 for 4 to 127 for 6 |
| Stars finish | 164 for 7 (20 overs) |
Powerplay Comparison
| Team | First 4 overs |
| Adelaide Strikers | 30 for 0 |
| Melbourne Stars | 31 for 0 |
Playing XIs
| Team | Playing XI |
| Adelaide Strikers | Maia Bouchier, Laura Wolvaardt, Tahlia McGrath (c), Madeline Penna, Bridget Patterson (wk), Ellie Johnston, Eleanor Larosa, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Sophie Ecclestone, Ella Wilson, Anesu Mushangwe |
| Melbourne Stars | Meg Lanning (c), Rhys McKenna, Amy Jones (wk), Annabel Sutherland, Naomi Stalenberg, Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean, Carly Leeson, Kim Garth, Maisy Gibson, Sophie Day |
Bench: Adelaide Strikers: Emma de Broughe, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, Maggie Clark. Melbourne Stars: Indigo Noble, Zoe Samuel, Tia Davidge, Georgia Prestwidge.
WBBL|12 Table After Match 4
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | Net Run Rate |
| Sydney Thunder | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +1.335 |
| Adelaide Strikers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +1.050 |
| Sydney Sixers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +0.150 |
| Melbourne Stars | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -0.075 |
| Brisbane Heat | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.150 |
| Hobart Hurricanes | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.900 |
| Melbourne Renegades | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1.335 |
| Perth Scorchers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Net run rate compares how fast a team scores with how fast its opponents score.
What's Next
| Match | Date | Fixture | Venue | Local | IST |
| 5 | Sat, Oct 31 | Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Renegades | WACA Ground, Perth | 4:10 PM AWST | 1:40 PM |
| 8 | Mon, Nov 2 | Melbourne Stars vs Perth Scorchers | Junction Oval, Melbourne | 7:10 PM AEDT | 1:40 PM |
| 10 | Thu, Nov 5 | Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat | Drummoyne Oval, Sydney | 3:40 PM AEDT | 10:10 AM |
For Pakistan, subtract 30 minutes from the IST times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars?
- Adelaide Strikers, by 21 runs at Karen Rolton Oval.
Who was Player of the Match?
- Amanda-Jade Wellington, for her 3 for 28.
Who top-scored?
- Laura Wolvaardt, with 70 off 50 balls for the Strikers.
What happened to the Stars' chase?
- They reached 77 without loss, then lost Lanning and Jones in the same over and finished 21 short.
When do the Strikers play next?
- Thursday, November 5, 2026, against Brisbane Heat at Drummoyne Oval (3:40 PM AEDT, 10:10 AM IST).
Related Guides and Series Coverage
📋 Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers, WBBL|12: Sarah Coyte Hits the Last Ball for Four to Win It
📋 WBBL|12 Opening Day Results: Thunder and Stars Start With Wins
📋 WBBL 2026 Schedule: Full WBBL|12 Fixtures, Venues and Times