Sydney Thunder have claimed the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League title with a tense three-wicket win over Sydney Sixers at the MCG.

Sixers were restricted to 7-115 on Sunday after winning the toss and electing to bat, with Thunder chasing down their target for the loss of seven wickets with just three balls to spare.

Thunder were cruising at 2-99 in the 18th over but lost five quick wickets, before Lauren Cheatle and Claire Koski scrambled through for the winning runs off an Ellyse Perry wide.

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Rachael Haynes top-scored for Thunder with 37 off 50 balls, while Erin Osborne was the best of Thunder’s bowlers, with her 3-21 earning her player-of-the-final honours.

Sixers carried the momentum of a nine-match winning streak into the final and came agonisingly close to making it 10 in a row against Thunder, who finished on top of the WBBL ladder.

Sixers’ innings didn’t start well. Skipper Perry fell cheaply – out for eight runs from 13 balls – and her side lost wickets regularly in the face of some quality bowling.

Batting at No.8, Angela Reakes top-scored for Sixers with 23 from 18 balls.

While Osborne was the pick of the Thunder attack, Maisy Gibson (2-21) and Rene Farrell (2-22) were also important.

Meanwhile, Melbourne Stars skipper Meg Lanning was named the WBBL player of the tournament.

She was the highest scorer of WBBL01, making 560 runs off 492 balls, including a high score of 90.