Sydney: India's women's T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur made a bright start to her Big Bash League career but her team Sydney Thunders lost to Melbourne Stars by six runs.

Harmanpreet smashed 47 off 28 balls at the North Sydney Oval ground hitting two fours and three sixes but her team were restricted to 141 for 4 in reply to Melbourne's 147 for 8. None other than Adam Gilchrist praised her batting while he was on air.

Harmanpreet became the first Indian woman cricketer to be allowed to play in an overseas private league.