- Stand-in captain Georgia Wareham stars with career-best figures and late heroics.
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Nicola Carey set Hobart Hurricanes record chase.
- Ashleigh Gardner dominates with five-wicket haul in commanding Sydney Sixers win.
The WBBL 2025-26 opened with a spectacular display of all-round brilliance as stand-out performers Wareham, Wyatt-Hodge, and Gardner led their teams to memorable victories on the first day.
In a rain-shortened thriller at Allan Border Field, Melbourne Renegades’ stand-in captain Georgia Wareham delivered a masterclass, taking 3 for 12 and guiding her side to a seven-wicket win over Brisbane Heat. Wareham’s composed partnership with Courtney Webb ensured a DLS-adjusted target of 66 was chased with three balls to spare, highlighting her skill both with bat and ball.
At Blundstone Arena, Hobart Hurricanes’ Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Nicola Carey forged a record 143-run third-wicket stand to chase down 182 against Sydney Thunder. Wyatt-Hodge’s 90 off 52 balls, featuring three towering sixes, set the platform before Carey’s unbeaten 58 sealed a thrilling six-wicket win.
Meanwhile, Sydney Sixers’ new full-time captain Ashleigh Gardner produced a performance for the ages at the WACA. Her 5 for 15 dismantled Perth Scorchers for 109, the best WBBL bowling figures by a Sixers player. Sophia Dunkley’s 61* and Ellyse Perry’s 47* propelled the Sixers to a dominant 10-wicket victory, reaching the target with 43 balls to spare.
The opening day of the WBBL showcased the excitement, talent, and high-stakes drama that sets the tone for an enthralling season ahead, with these individual performances already making early headlines.
