WBBL 2025-26: The Melbourne Stars suffer a third consecutive loss on the cusp of a finals return

The Melbourne Stars have suffered a disastrous loss on the eve of the WBBL finals.

A disastrous finish to the regular season by the Melbourne Stars has taken fate out of their own hands.

A clinical Sydney Thunder put the Stars to the sword in a rain-affected match at Junction Oval, handing the hosts their third consecutive loss.

The Thunder raced down the Stars’ 10-over adjusted target of 76 inside eight overs through a Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll masterclass at the top of the order.

The Stars were 0-29 in the fifth over when rain hit and lost 6-23 after they returned to the middle with a scratch under six overs left in the innings.

The anchor of the Stars’ season, Meg Lanning, was starved of the strike after the delay and eventually fell cutting for 13 off 17 balls.

Litchfield carved 37 from 23 deliveries in an innings which included three fours and two sixes.

The Sydney Thunder has cast doubt over the Stars’ season. (Photo by Adam Trafford/Getty Images)

Voll, after taking two crucial wickets in the first innings, hit 33 not out from 18 balls with seven fours.

The loss now leaves the Stars nervously watching the fortunes of the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers.

The Scorchers are a win and heavy net run rate behind the Stars but are playing last-placed and winless Brisbane Heat.

The Sixers play the Adelaide Strikers tomorrow in the final game of the season.

“Obviously the result didn’t land where hoped, which makes thinking about finals a little bit tricky at this point in time, waiting on some results,” Melbourne Stars coach Andy Christie said.

“We’ll just wait and see where we land but we’ve certainly put ourselves in a situation where hopefully we do play finals.

“I think it’s tricky to deep dive into too much but obviously with the ball you need to build pressure more often, so having overs without boundaries is key.

“With the bat we need to keep working on building those partnerships ... with Litchfield and Voll, they had a brilliant partnership which really set them up for success.”

Originally published as WBBL 2025-26: The Melbourne Stars suffer a third consecutive loss on the cusp of a finals return