WBBL 2025 Match 38: MS-W vs ST-W head-to-head, pitch report & predicted playing XIs

Match No. 38 of the  WBBL 2025 will see Melbourne Stars Women (MS-W) take on the Sydney Thunder Women (ST-W) on Saturday, December 6, at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.

The Melbourne Stars Women have had an excellent season so far, with five wins from nine games. They are second in the points table at the moment. The Stars, though, have lost their last couple of games on the trot and will be desperate to break that sequence. Playing at home, with their fans supporting them, will provide extra impetus in trying to get back to winning ways.

On the other hand, Sydney Thunder Women find themselves in a do-or-die situation. Already, their hopes of qualifying hang by a thread, so a loss in this game would only end their year's hope. The Phoebe Litchfield-led side will draw confidence from its thrilling win over Brisbane Heat in its last game and will hope to put up a similar show of strength once again. A victory, therefore, is one that the team needs to keep it alive in the competition.

MS-W vs ST-W: Head-to-Head Record

• Matches Played: 21
  
• Melbourne Stars Women Won: 5
  
• Sydney Thunder Women Won: 12
  
• Tied / No Result: 4

MS-W vs ST-W: Pitch Report

The Junction Oval has hosted 19 WBBL matches so far, and teams batting second have won 11 times. The average first-innings score is around 142, which shows that the pitch becomes easier for batting as the game progresses. Because of this, captains generally prefer to bowl first. However, conditions like early moisture or surface hardness may also influence the decision. Overall, batters who settle in can score well later in the innings.

See Also: WBBL 2025 Match 39: PS-W vs BH-W head-to-head, pitch report & predicted playing XIs

MS-W vs ST-W: Predicted Playing XIs

Melbourne Stars Women (MS-W):

Meg Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Amy Jones (WK), Annabel Sutherland (C), Maia Bouchier, Kim Garth, Danielle Gibson, Sasha Moloney, Georgia Prestwidge, Maisy Gibson, Sophie Day.

Sydney Thunder Women (ST-W):

Georgia Voll, Tahlia Wilson, Phoebe Litchfield (C), Heather Knight, Anika Learoyd, Lucy Finn, Laura Harris, Emily Arlott, Taneale Peschel, Shabnim Ismail, Samantha Bates.