A superb all-round display from India's Harmanpreet Kaur played a huge part in defending champions Sydney Thunder's first WBBL win of the season in Albury on Tuesday.
Spinner Kaur took 4-27 and belted 30 not out off 21 balls as Thunder beat Melbourne Stars by eight wickets with seven balls to spare.
Kaur, who scored 47 not out off 28 balls in Thunder's first game loss to the Stars at North Sydney last Saturday, precipitated a late-innings collapse after she was introduced to the attack in the 14th over.
The Stars lost 6-26 in the last five-and-a-half overs to finish at 9-116 after winning the toss.
Kaur ended a dangerous fifth-wicket stand of 57 by having Stars' top-scorer Jess Cameron (36) caught in the covers.
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In her next over, Kaur bowled Katie Mack (26), the other member of the Stars' most productive partnership.
Left arm spinner Samantha Bates (2-21) made some valuable early breakthroughs, including the prize wicket of Stars and Australian captain Meg Lanning (14).
Thunder's chase got off to a good start with a 59-run opening stand between West Indian Stafanie Taylor (29) and Rachael Haynes (35), who fell to a sensational outfield catch from Lanning.
Kaur smashed three fours and two sixes and combined with captain Alex Blackwell (21 not out) in a match-clinching 44-run stand.
The result means each of the eight teams has finished the first round with a 1-1 record, after all four two-game series were split.
