Lizelle Lee supreme as Hurricanes hammer Stars

Lizelle Lee shone with the bat and the gloves to inspire Hobart Hurricanes to an eight-wicket win over Melbourne Stars and keep her side's flickering WBBL finals hopes alive.

The former South Africa star plundered an unbeaten 77 off 49 deliveries after completing three stumpings in the field. After dismissing a disappointing Stars line-up for 121, Hurricanes coasted to victory with 23 balls remaining at Allan Border Field.

Lee found a willing partner in allrounder Nicola Carey in an unbroken 99-run stand for the third wicket. Carey finished 38 not out off 41 balls.

The 31-year-old Lee was in supreme form. She was dominant over, and through the offside and was just as destructive on the legside. The ball rocketed off the middle of Lee's bat throughout a knock that included four sixes.

Earlier, Stars captain Meg Lanning played an array of exquisite cuts and drives in a classy cameo at the top of the order but fell for 27 off 19.

Melbourne's batters barely got out of first gear. Just when they looked like doing so, they were dismissed with Maia Bouchier and Annabel Sutherland as prime examples after reaching 20 and failing to kick on.

The Hurricanes had been sloppy in the field against Brisbane Heat two days earlier at the same venue but they bowled tightly and took their catches. Lee was superb behind the stumps and set the standard in the field.

Five bowlers were among the wickets, including Carey who had a fine match and bounced back after copping severe treatment early off Lanning.

Spinner Molly Strano cleaned up at the end, taking 3 for 20, as the Stars collapsed to lose 6 for 22 to be bowled out in the 20th over.

The Hurricanes moved to nine points on the WBBL ladder, four points behind fourth-placed Sydney Thunder.