Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes Preview & Prediction | WBBL|12 | League Stage

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The WBBL 12 opening day double-header concludes with defending champions Hobart Hurricanes going up against Melbourne Stars

Date & time: 29 October 2026 at 8:10 am

Venue: Junction Oval, Melbourne, Australia

Weather: Cloudy but dry with temperatures dropping as the day gets late.

How to watch: UK – Sky Sports & Sky Go / USA – Willow TV / Australia – Visit this link for the latest TV/streaming guide for this match

Tickets: Click here for the latest ticket information for Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes

Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes prediction

Both of these sides reached the play-offs last year, with Hobart Hurricanes going on to win their first ever WBBL title. Melbourne Stars, however, were eliminated in the knockout match, with an over-reliance on captain and star batter Meg Lanning key to their undoing. Lanning, the former Australia captain, is so important to the success of this Stars side. She was the WBBL's second top scorer last season with 479 runs and also racked up the tournament's highest individual score, an incredible 135 against Sydney Sixers.

As for Hobart Hurricanes, they come into the 2026 WBBL in excellent shape, boasting plenty of match winners, including big-hitting batters and difference makers with the ball. However, they have had to deal with a late injury to England star Danni Wyatt-Hodge, forcing her to withdraw. Sri Lankan international Chamari Athapaththu is a more than capable replacement though.

When comparing the two squads, Lanning is clearly the biggest difference maker on the field, and she has the ability to win a game single-handedly with the bat if at her best. On what is usually an excellent batting surface at Junction Oval, it's well worth backing Lanning to get her latest WBBL campaign underway with a sizable score.

Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes tip: Meg Lanning to score 30+ runs