The Melbourne Renegades have gone from backside to prime, claiming their first WBBL title after downing the Brisbane Warmth by seven runs in a rain-affected closing on the MCG.
West Indies star Hayley Matthews delivered an final all-round efficiency with bat and ball on Sunday, defying a late cameo from Warmth skipper Jess Jonassen.
The Brisbane all-rounder, who’s making an attempt to win again her Australian spot, virtually single-handedly pulled her facet to the title with an unbeaten 44.
However Jonassen’s opposing captain, Sophie Molineux, saved her nerve by bowling a decent closing over because the Warmth completed on 6-90, wanting their decreased goal of 98 from 12 overs.
Matthews started by crafting a restrained 69 in a complete of 9-141 after the Renegades had been despatched in to bat by Jonassen.
Her glowing knock, coming from 61 balls, was the very best particular person rating in a WBBL closing, breaking the document held by Australian star Beth Mooney (65) when she performed for the Warmth in 2019.
Matthews took the wickets of Charli Knott and Laura Harris in consecutive balls to finish her first over, making it extraordinarily troublesome for the Warmth to achieve their goal once they crumbled to 5-37.
The Warmth, who misplaced final 12 months’s closing in opposition to Adelaide, had been already in hassle at 2-19 when the rain arrived.
Play was delayed for about 40 minutes, decreasing the Warmth’s innings by eight overs.
With stars Grace Harris and Jemimah Rodrigues already dismissed, the Warmth’s problem acquired even tougher when power-hitter Grace Harris fell to Molineux.
After ending final in the course of the 2023-24 version, the Renegades misplaced the primary two video games this season earlier than catching fireplace to be this match’s dominant workforce.
Matthews performed a lone hand within the Renegades innings as teammates saved falling round her, with Georgia Wareham (21) posting the second highest rating.
Rising stars Charli Knott (3-26) and Grace Parsons (2-29) had been probably the most prolific of the Warmth’s bowlers, however Jonassen (1-25) additionally despatched down 4 useful overs.
The Warmth shall be ruing some sloppy fielding, particularly early within the innings.
Laura Harris price the Warmth when she took a ping on the stumps with no back-up, leading to 4 overthrows.
Whereas Matthews was on fireplace, her fellow West Indies teammate Deandra Dottin was run out in horrific vogue after her bat acquired caught within the floor simply wanting the road.
After deciding to play the decider on the MCG, as a substitute of the Junction Oval in St Kilda, when the Renegades gained internet hosting rights, a crowd of 5,844 turned on Sunday in a pass-mark consequence for Cricket Australia.
AAP
