Stars ready for must-win Derby

Stand-in Melbourne Stars captain Erin Osborne says her team must treat every game as a final if they are to make the top four – and it starts on Saturday afternoon with the Melbourne Derby.

The Stars are just one win from six starts in Rebel WBBL|03 after losing to Adelaide Strikers by 22 runs today after a batting collapse at Casey Fields.

But Osborne, who captained today with regular skipper Kristen Beams sidelined by a hand injury, said the Stars would have to learn their lesson quickly and move on.

“I think every game from here on in becomes finals for us,” she said.

“If we want to make top four, we need to start winning and winning continuously.

“The group is up and about; we’re under no illusions (about) what we have to do. It’s a good young team and I’m sure we’ll bounce back from this and be fine.”

The Stars have no mean feat before them, taking on the red-hot Renegades who have won four of their past five matches, including a Super Over thriller against reigning champions Sydney Sixers at Geelong on Wednesday.

For the crosstown rivals, there will be a bit of added incentive to win, given the Renegades now boast three former Stars in Emma Inglis, Jess Duffin and Hayley Jensen.

“There should be a bit of extra spice to the game – obviously a few Melbourne Stars have crossed over to the Renegades this season,” Osborne said. “So we’re looking forward to the challenge. The Renegades are coming off a good win against the Sixers recently, and we’ll be a bit more desperate for a win tomorrow.”

Osborne said the key for the Stars lay in turning over the strike more frequently than they did against the Strikers today. Chasing a “par” score of 145 for the win, the Stars didn’t lose a wicket until the 12th over, but with just 73 runs to their credit at that point, the pressure was mounting, culminating in two collapses of 3-4 and 5-7.

Opener Lizelle Lee was slow off the mark, but finished with 44 off 42, helped along by four boundaries off one Megan Schutt over, while Anna Lanning made 24 off 34.

Mignon du Preez tried to up the ran rate, firing off a quick 16 off nine, but she was stumped as she aggressively hunted the ball.

“We would’ve liked not to have faced as many dot balls as (Lee and Lanning) did – it did put a bit of pressure on the girls coming in the back end,” Osborne said.

“But they’re both hitting the ball well and if they’re able to rotate the strike a little bit more, then we’ll be right to go tomorrow.

“I think the key for us is just not facing too many dot balls.”

But Osborne praised the efforts of the bowlers, who stood up in the absence of captain and leg-spinner Kristen Beams.

Osborne said Beams, who was replaced in the XI by debutant Nicole Faltum after copping a blow to the hand against Perth Scorchers last week, was a chance to return against the Renegades, but no guarantee.

“Kristen is going really well,” Osborne said. “She might be back tomorrow, we’re not 100 per cent sure yet - but it would be nice to have her back – but I don’t think it’s a long-term injury.”

Osborne, who crossed from Sydney Thunder this year, said she was enjoying the extra responsibility she has been given at the Stars.

As well as stepping up to take on the captaincy yesterday, she’s been given more responsibility with the ball.

“I’m really enjoying it,” she said. “I haven’t really bowled a lot in the Power Play previously and I’m really enjoying the challenge, and opening the bowling is fun.

“And (being) a bit more of an option, me batting at six as well, has been really great.”

The Stars take on the Renegades at the MCG at 2.20pm AEDT on Saturday.