In a game that won’t be remembered for the fielding, Sophie Ecclestone has taken an early contender for the WBBL’s catch of the season.

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With Melbourne Stars at 1-79 chasing 186 for victory, the Strikers needed a wicket, and after spilling a catch earlier, the English spinner leapt into the sky to take a ‘hanger’, as described by English cricketer Lauren Winfield-Hill on Fox Cricket.

One-handed, with her dominant left, launching off one foot and off-balance, Ecclestone (2-25) claimed the stunning snare to remove England teammate, Amy Jones (2), on the final ball of the ninth over in the chase. The Stars losing another five wickets to finish, 7/164.

“Dropped one earlier, she probably could have taken, but she’s made up for it with this hanger,” Winfield-Hill said after an almost bashful Ecclestone claimed one of the season’s best to date.

Ecclestone had dropped a catch in the second over of the chase, moving forward, giving the powerful Rhys McKenna (40 from 31 balls) a life on one. McKenna was later dropped again, by Ellie Johnston on 38, with the Strikers continuing the sloppy fielding in Adelaide.

In her 100th WBBL match, Laura Wolvaardt’s 70 from 50 provided the platform for Maddie Penna’s clean hitting late, which took the Strikers to 2/185, with 36 not out from 13 in the final three overs of the innings.

Leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington (3-28) claiming the crucial wickets of Meg Lanning (32) and Annabel Sutherland (29).

DEAN BELOW PAR AFTER STAR DEBUT

Following a pivotal 1-13 off her four overs on debut for the Stars in a season opening win against the reigning champion Hobart Hurricanes, one of the world’s best allrounders cost her team on Saturday.

English star Charlie Dean put down a regulation catch, low to her right, in the fourth over of the match, giving Wolvaardt a life on nine and costing Sutherland (1-40) her first wicket.

In contrast to Thursday night, Dean (0-25) had conceded 17 without a wicket after two overs with the ball. And the day got worse for the spinner when a regulation misfield gave Wolvaardt a freebie four early in the eighth over and then a second ball duck.

Dean wasn’t alone in the field. Fellow Englishwoman Dani Gibson spilt McGrath at deep mid-wicket with the score 1/106.



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