Stand-in Melbourne Star skipper Erin Osborne has presided over a mixed bag of WBBL results the past few days – but her own form as been first rate.
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![BEAUTIFUL, THAT: Erin Osborne, in a player-of-the-match performance for the Stars, celebrates after Alana King hit a six to defeat the Strikers at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide. AAP Image/Kelly Barnes BEAUTIFUL, THAT: Erin Osborne, in a player-of-the-match performance for the Stars, celebrates after Alana King hit a six to defeat the Strikers at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide. AAP Image/Kelly Barnes](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/KUhQizDbwW8WqAyPP4x5yp/ac5eebf7-e386-44e3-971e-7f8fa033aace.jpg/r0_0_1828_1222_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
On Friday night, the Tamworth product scored 54 not out and took 2-16 off four overs, in a player-of-the-match performance, to guide the Melbourne Stars to victory over the Strikers in Adelaide.
But on Sunday in Adelaide, the Stars fell 19 runs short after the Strikers set them 173 to win. Osborne claimed two of the three Strikers wickets to fall, while she produced a 33-runs partnership with South African import Mignon du Preezwith that made the run chase more interesting.
Friday’s match was a thriller. Standing in for usual captain Kristen Beams, who sat out the game as she continues to recover from an achilles injury, Osborne’s unbeaten 54 came off 45 deliveries.
![STAR: Erin Osborne. AAP Image/Kelly Barnes STAR: Erin Osborne. AAP Image/Kelly Barnes](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/KUhQizDbwW8WqAyPP4x5yp/2834717e-f513-48e4-9d32-1a02788342dd.jpg/r0_0_1697_2719_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The Stars sealed the win with three balls to spare and with four wickets in hand at Karen Rolton Oval.
Chasing the Strikers 7-144, Lizelle Lee (33 off 19) gave the Stars a fast start but when she perished things looked wobbly for the team in green as Ange Reakes (2), du Preez (17) and Katie Mack (0) fell cheaply.
But Osborne stood tall, sharing a key stand with 17-year-old Annabel Sutherland (13). With nine runs required from the last over, Osborne and Sutherland ran two before the latter was run out a ball later. Needing six off four for victory, Alana King struck a six from the first ball she faced to seal the points.