Match Recap: Stars defeat Strikers

Match in a tweet: Jess Cameron lifts the Stars to 125 before the bowlers do a remarkable job to bowl out the Strikers for a paltry 88

The score: Melbourne Stars 10-125 (Cameron 42) in 19.3 overs defeated Adelaide Strikers 10-88 (Edwards 35, Beams 3-11) in 17.4 overs by 38 runs

The hero: Jess Cameron had to use of all her experience to dig the Stars out of a hole against some economical bowling. Having lost both openers with the score on 28, the former Southern Star resurrected the innings with some clever batting, as she manipulated the ball into gaps with soft hands. Once Cameron was set, she took full toll on the Strikers bowlers with some clean striking including a big blow over the bowlers head for a maximum. The right-hander finished on 42 from 48 balls to play a vital role in guiding the Stars to a total that was defendable. 

The support cast: Since returning from injury Kristen Beams has been a revelation with the ball. Bowling with the new kookaburra, Beams combined her leg spinners and sliders to keep the Strikers batters in check during the early stages. Not only was Beams economical, but she also picked up three wickets to end the match with respectable figures of 3-11. 

The over: With the Strikers needing 50 from 30, Gemma Triscari produced an outstanding over in which she took three wickets and conceded only one run.  Triscari had Charlotte Edwards brilliantly stumped by Emma Inglis before dismissing Bridget Patterson (10) and Alex Price (0) off successive delivers to clinch the match for Stars. 

The catch: Alex Price took one of the catches of the season in the covers to get rid of ominous looking Meg Lanning. Price was blinded for a split second as one of her team-mates tried to snare the catch by leaping across her, but the allrounder still managed to judge the flight perfectly by diving to her right to take it inches above the ground.

The consolation act: It has not been the best tournament for English veteran Edwards but the Strikers opener showed glimpses of her class with a composed 35 from 39 balls. Edwards used the crease to great effect as she executed the sweep on numerous occasions against spinners as well as the medium pacers. Her knock included two boundaries but sadly for the Strikers she lacked support from the other end.

The next stop: The Strikers will now face the Scorchers at the WACA on Saturday while the Stars also stay put in Perth to tackle the Scorchers on Sunday.

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