Adelaide Strikers beat Sydney Thunder by thirty runs to begin the campaign. Strikers put on 140 runs batting first, courtesy of a middle-order push, led by Tahlia McGrath. Then the team bundled the Thunder for just 110 runs and once again Tahlia left an impact after claiming multiple wickets.
Strikers had a terrible start and lost Dane, Katie, and Laura by the score of 26 runs. Bridgett Peterson also got out at the score of 46 and Thunder took the driving seat. However, Madelina Penna and Tahlia McGrath put on a game-changing 69 runs partnership to rescue the innings. Penna played the anchor role while McGrath, who is in the form of her life, kept accumulating runs through running and boundaries.
McGrath fell after making 42 runs, a number she has come to love, as she has reached 40s in her last five of the six innings, making 42 twice. Penna made 35 off 37 and a late push courtesy of an 11-ball 15 runs innings by Amanda Jade-Wellington secured a total of 140.
Like Strikers, Thunder had a terrible start and the team lost three wickets for 34. Capable batters like Smriti, Phoebe, and Sammy fell in a rather frustrating fashion. Then the only substantial partnership for the Thunder came from Corrine Hall and Anika Learoyd as the pair added 59 runs for the fourth wicket.
Once Hall fell at the total of 93 and after making 38 runs, the innings fell apart completely. McGrath refused to go away from the limelight and took the wickets of set batters Anika and Hall. The Thunder lost the last seven wickets for just 17 runs and McGrath looked like an obvious Player of the Match choice.
