Melbourne Stars Women face Perth Scorchers Women
in Match 8 of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2026 on Monday, 2 November 2026, at Junction Oval in Melbourne, in a rematch of last season’s Knockout final. The Stars, playing at home on Melbourne Cup Eve, have started their season with one win and one loss and sit fifth in the early points table. The Scorchers, by contrast, opened their campaign with a win over Melbourne Renegades and arrive in Melbourne full of confidence. The Stars have named an unchanged squad for this home game, backing the group that beat Hobart Hurricanes in their opener and then lost to Adelaide Strikers. Captain Meg Lanning is already the competition’s early leading run-scorer, with 103 runs in her first two games.
Match Overview
Melbourne Stars’ season so far has been a story of two games: a win over Hobart Hurricanes built on Lanning’s 71, followed by a loss to Adelaide Strikers in which Annabel Sutherland still impressed with bat and ball — 86 runs and four wickets across the Stars’ first two matches. Perth Scorchers’ opener was far more comfortable: captain Beth Mooney anchored the chase with an unbeaten 58 off 40 balls against Melbourne Renegades, while Sophie Devine smashed an unbeaten 47 off 32 balls and took a wicket. That combination of Mooney’s calm and Devine’s power is exactly what makes the Scorchers so dangerous in a chase. Junction Oval should suit both sides’ strengths: the Stars know the ground well, and the Scorchers’ pace attack, led by Chloe Ainsworth and Fatima Sana, will enjoy the bounce on offer.
Date, Time and Venue
- Match: Melbourne Stars Women vs Perth Scorchers Women, Match 8, Women’s Big Bash League 2026
- Date: Monday, 2 November 2026
- Venue: Junction Oval, Melbourne, Australia
- Start time: 1:40 PM IST (7:10 PM local Melbourne time, 8:10 AM GMT)
- Captains: Meg Lanning (Melbourne Stars), Beth Mooney (Perth Scorchers)
Probable Playing XIs and Squads
Melbourne’s probable XI is built around Lanning and Rhys McKenna at the top, Amy Jones behind the stumps, Sutherland and Danielle Gibson as all-round options, and Kim Garth leading the pace attack with Charlie Dean’s spin. Perth’s probable XI leans on Mooney keeping wicket and leading the side, Devine’s all-round class, Katie Mack and Chloe Piparo in the batting order, and the spin of Alana King with the pace of Ainsworth and Fatima Sana.
- Melbourne Stars Women probable XI: Meg Lanning (captain), Rhys McKenna, Amy Jones (wicket-keeper), Annabel Sutherland, Naomi Stalenberg, Danielle Gibson, Charlotte Dean, Carly Leeson, Kim Garth, Maisy Gibson, Sophie Day.
- Perth Scorchers Women probable XI: Beth Mooney (wicket-keeper, captain), Katie Mack, Sophie Devine, Freya Kemp, Mikayla Hinkley, Chloe Piparo, Fatima Sana, Alana King, Chloe Ainsworth, Lilly Mills, Amy Edgar.
Key players to watch: Meg Lanning, with 103 runs in two innings including a 71 against Hobart Hurricanes; Annabel Sutherland, with 86 runs and four wickets in two games; Beth Mooney, unbeaten on 58 in the Scorchers’ opener; and Sophie Devine, whose unbeaten 47 off 32 balls won that same game.
Head-to-Head Record
| Team | Matches won |
| Melbourne Stars Women | 8 |
| Perth Scorchers Women | 8 |
There is nothing to separate these two sides on history — eight wins each — which makes current form the tiebreaker. The Stars have the home ground and Lanning’s early-season runs; the Scorchers have the momentum of an opening win and a side that has already shown it can chase under pressure. This is also a rematch of last season’s Knockout final, which adds an extra edge to an already even contest.
Pitch and Weather Report
Junction Oval in Melbourne generally offers a balanced surface: there is enough help for seamers early and for spinners later, but batters who get in can score freely, and the average first-innings total in WBBL games here is around 155. The short boundaries keep both teams interested throughout, and the side winning the toss may prefer to chase under lights. Melbourne conditions on the evening are expected to be mild, with no major rain interruption forecast, so a full 40-over contest is expected.
Where to Watch and Live Streaming
In India, WBBL 2026 matches are streamed live on FanCode, with television coverage on Eurosport. In Australia, matches are shown on Channel 7 and Fox Cricket, with streaming on 7plus, Kayo Sports and CA Live. Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch on Sky Sports, and in the United States on Willow TV.
FAQs
- When is Melbourne Stars Women vs Perth Scorchers Women? — Monday, 2 November 2026, starting at 1:40 PM IST at Junction Oval, Melbourne.
- Which match of WBBL 2026 is this? — Match 8 of the league stage; the Stars’ third match of the season and the Scorchers’ second.
- Who are the captains? — Meg Lanning captains Melbourne Stars and Beth Mooney captains Perth Scorchers.
- What is the head-to-head record? — Perfectly level: eight wins each.
- Where can I watch it in India? — Live streaming on FanCode, with TV coverage on Eurosport.
Final Summary and Conclusion
This shapes up as one of the closest games of the early WBBL season. Melbourne Stars have home advantage, an unchanged squad and the competition’s early leading batter in Meg Lanning. Perth Scorchers have the form, the momentum of an opening win, and the Mooney-Devine combination that can take a chase away from any side. If Lanning and Sutherland fire together at Junction Oval, the Stars should take the points; if Mooney and Devine fire together, the Scorchers will make it two wins from two.
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