Sydney Thunder made a confident start to the Women's Big Bash League season, beating Melbourne Renegades by six wickets in the opening match at Junction Oval on Thursday. Chasing 139, Thunder reached 140 for four in 17 overs, with 18 balls to spare.

Voll sets the tone, Learoyd finishes the job

Renegades had started brightly after being put in to bat. Opener Hayley Matthews struck 45 from 30 balls, but the innings unravelled. Georgia Voll's off-spin did most of the damage, taking four wickets for 26 runs and contributing a run-out, as Renegades fell to 138 for nine from their 20 overs. At one stage they lost five wickets for just two runs in seven balls.

Knight and de Klerk finish the chase

Voll carried her form straight into the chase, hitting four boundaries and the match's only six in a rapid 25 from 18 balls. After she and captain Phoebe Litchfield, who made 14, were dismissed, Anika Learoyd took control, striking nine boundaries in a career-best Big Bash innings of 48 from 37 balls. Learoyd shared a match-winning 62-run partnership for the third wicket with England international Heather Knight, and the pair took 28 runs from the power surge to put Thunder within sight of victory. Knight finished unbeaten on 29 from 22 balls, and Nadine de Klerk struck an unbeaten 12 from six balls to close out the win after Tayla Vlaeminck briefly threatened with two wickets in an over. Vlaeminck, playing her first game after five injury-affected seasons, finished with two for 23. The opening-day collapse will be the concern for Renegades: a strong start with the bat counted for little once Voll found her rhythm.

Sources: Cricket Australia, ESPNcricinfo.