Alex Blackwell shines as Sydney Thunder beat Melbourne Stars

That's not just the company line for the Sydney Thunder star given they bring home games to the capital - the sight of her family in the stands proves it.

The Thunder kept their faint WBBL finals hopes alive with an 18-run win over the Melbourne Stars at Manuka Oval on Wednesday.

A Blackwell blitz (65) saw the Thunder post 6-162 after being sent into bat - the highest total posted in a WBBL game at Manuka Oval - and the Stars would only manage 4-144 in reply.

So did she have many family members there to see her shine?

"Heaps, and they were really loud. They're up there, that group up there," Blackwell said as she pointed towards the stands.

"It was really nice actually. I have my little nieces here, one is over there. She is playing cricket now, it wasn't my fault, and I think the older one might start playing too.

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"I did give her a bat so I've tried to encourage her. It's great to see young girls getting involved, it's growing here in Canberra. The Thunder have a role to play in that to inspire young kids.

"This is a bit of a local region for me, I'm from Griffith but my sister lives in Canberra. It feels like coming home in a way. It's a part of our Thunder nation as well, so we'll continue to bring games here."

Their record suggests that may be a good idea - the Thunder are now three from three in Canberra, but that's not to say it was all smooth sailing against the lowly Stars.

Melbourne's Annabel Sutherland struck first to remove Rachel Priest for 12 in the second over before Naomi Stalenberg steadied the ship with a 21-ball 30.

That was until Alana King had her stumped to leave the hosts searching for a new batter to fill the void and lead them towards a total fit for what many regard as a batter's paradise.

So in came Blackwell. The former Australian skipper who at 36 still boasts every bit of the class that carried her to cricket's upper echelon.

And didn't she show it, splitting the field with ease en route to a superb half-century in a 47-ball innings boasting nine boundaries and a maximum, before she picked out ACT young gun Maddie Penna in the field.

It was then Penna's Meteors and Melbourne teammate Erin Osborne playing a key role with the bat, finishing unbeaten on 27 while Mignon du Preez (55) and Elyse Villani (43) lit up an ultimately ill-fated run chase.

Penna has emerged as one of the finds of the season at the Stars having already impressed for the Meteors in the WNCL - and she was just one young gun on show in the capital.

Glance down the opposition team sheet and you'll see the names that stand out for Blackwell.

"Hannah Darlington has just been outstanding for us this year, Phoebe Litchfield burst onto the scene and has been doing really well," Blackwell said.

"But Hannah, under pressure, has been delivering with really clutch overs. She has shown a lot of maturity, she bowled the last over and she is someone we would consider for a super over.

"She is that good, as a young kid. She's so confident and calm, nothing seems to make her too nervous. I wish I had a bit of that, because I was terribly nervous before the game today, because if we lose, we're definitely out.

"It's great to see the Thunder in a good place."

AT A GLANCE

Women's Big Bash League: SYDNEY THUNDER 6-162 (Alex Blackwell 65, Naomi Stalenberg 30; Annabel Sutherland 2-31, Erin Osborne 1-29) bt MELBOURNE STARS 4-144 (Mignon du Preez 55, Elyse Villani 43; Rene Farrell 2-28, Sam Bates 1-20) by 18 runs at Manuka Oval.