New Delhi: Melbourne Renegades women team on Sunday bagged its maiden Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) title in a pulsating rain-truncated match against Brisbane Heat women played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). West Indies international Hayley Matthews starred in the summit clash with her all-round brilliance as the women in red and blank edged the two-time WBBl champions by eight runs with the final being determined through Duckworth-Lewis Stern (DLS) method.
Mathhews scored 69 runs off 61 balls with her innings laced by eight boundaries to propel the Renegades to a respectable score of 141 for 9 after being put to bat first. Georgia Wareham’s run-a-ball 21 was the second best in the insipid batting show from the Renegades barring the sublime knock from the Barbados star.
Fairytales are real! 🪄
Match Report for your WBBL Champions: https://t.co/dA27JzcQVx #WBBL10 #CHAMPS #GETONRED pic.twitter.com/kzRBRPoCr2
— Melbourne Renegades (@RenegadesBBL) December 1, 2024
Heat’s chances were dented early in the chase after losing key batters. Power-hitting opener Grace Harris went for a naught after chipping towards mid-on off Chrais Bekker’s bowling in the first over. Indian youngster Jemimah Rodrigues was undone by the extra bounce from Milly Illingworth, adding just one run to the tally in the big match.
At 3.2 overs, Heat’s score read 11 for 2 just after Charli Knott played a brilliant cut shot for a boundary against Illingworth. It was then the rain showers interrupted the play and subsequently covers were brought on the field. It took time for the match to resume and Heat’s target was revised to 98 runs in 12 overs (from original 142 in 20 overs).
Renegades deployed a complete spin attack after the break as Heat continued the batting collapse. Renegades captain Sophie Molineux removed opener Georgia Redmayne after she hit two boundaries. Matthews picked up back-t0-back dismissal of Charli Knott and Laura Harris in the seventh over.
Heat skipper Jess Jonassen played a masterclass counter-attacking 28-ball 44-run unbeaten knock, hammering five fours and a six, but the efforts weren’t sufficient as the team finished at 90 for six in the end. The Brisbane outfit has now lost their second successive final and missed the chance to add another title to their cabinet after winning WBBL trophies in 2018-19 and 2019.
229 days after a life-threatening medical episode, @RenegadesBBL coach Simon Helmot hands over his Champions medallion to Josie Dooley 🫶
Sensational stuff. 👏 #WBBL10 pic.twitter.com/3ELXqvUyj0
— Weber Women’s Big Bash League (@WBBL) December 1, 2024
Melbourne Renegades has become the sixth different team to lift the WBBL title in the 10th season. Only Hobart Hurricanes women and Melbourne Stars women are yet to win the tournament while Sydney Thunder women, Sydney Sixers women, Brisbane Heat women, and Adelaide Strikers women have won two titles each. Perth Scorchers won the trophy in the 2021 season.
Melbourne Renegades has become the sixth different team to lift the WBBL title in the 10th season, Only Hobart Hurricanes women and Melbourne Stars women are yet to win the tournament while Sydney Thunder women, Sydney Sixers women, Brisbane Heat women, and Adelaide Strikers women have won two titles each. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
