Kapp, Jones star in Melbourne Stars' convincing win

South Africa allrounder Marizanne Kapp continued her decisive late-season surge as Melbourne Stars clinched a comprehensive 37-run win over Hobart Hurricanes at the Junction Oval, handing the table-toppers their second straight loss after they'd won the five before to start WBBL 2025.

Two days after her match-turning 93*, Kapp shaped this contest with the ball. Defending 151, she struck with the first ball of the chase to remove the in-form Lizelle Lee and doubled up in her second over by nipping out Danielle Wyatt-Hodge. Her opening burst of three overs for 2 for 16 put the Hurricanes on the back foot, one from which they never recovered.

Earlier, Amy Jones (59) and Danielle Gibson (39) lifted the Stars to 151 for 7 after Kapp fell early. Jones struck six fours and a six in a 52-run stand with Meg Lanning (26), who fell in the power surge. The wicket triggered a short wobble as Annabel Sutherland departed soon after, but Gibson's late surge kept the innings on track.

Hurricanes' reply never recovered from Kapp's new-ball strike. Natalie Sciver-Brunt countered briefly with 27 off 21 but became the first wicket in a collapse of 4 for 13 that derailed the chase. Sophie Day capitalised on the early damage, finishing with four wickets as the Hurricanes folded for 114 in the 17th over. Kapp also added a sharp outfield catch to close out her night.

Brief scores: Melbourne Stars 151/6 in 20 overs (Amy Jones 59, Danielle Gibson 39; Nicola Carey 2-29) beat Hobart Hurricanes 114 in 16.2 overs (Elyse Villani 38; Sophie Day 4-17, Marizanne Kapp 2-29)