![Sophie Molineux played a knock of gold for the Renegades in WBBL 2024 [Image: Getty]](https://www.womenscricinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/390297.webp "Sophie Molineux played a knock of gold for the Renegades [Image: Getty]")
In a thrilling contest at Junction Oval, Melbourne – the Melbourne Renegades emerged victorious over the Adelaide Strikers by two wickets in a last-ball thriller, chasing down a target of 158 set by the Strikers in WBBL 2024.
Katie Mack’s Intent Worthy Start
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Adelaide Strikers approached their innings with a measured start. Katie Mack, who opened the batting, looked sharp early on, hitting four boundaries in her quick 23 off 21 balls. Her intent to get the scoreboard moving was clear, but she fell in the fifth over, caught and bowled by Sophie Molineux. This early breakthrough left the Strikers at 36 for 1, just as they began building some momentum.
Laura Wolvaardt, batting alongside Mack, struggled to find her rhythm. She took 14 balls for her nine runs, unable to break free against the disciplined Renegades bowlers. Her dismissal came in the eighth over, as she was caught by Deandra Dottin off Georgia Wareham, leaving the Strikers with a slight stumble at 55 for 2.
Tahlia McGrath’s Knock of Gold
Tahlia McGrath, the Strikers’ skipper, came to the crease with the task of stabilizing the innings, which she did with composure and authority. McGrath’s knock became the backbone of the Strikers’ innings, and she paced it to perfection. Displaying her class, McGrath struck eight boundaries and a six in her unbeaten 64 off 44 deliveries. Her innings was marked by calculated shots and effective rotation of the strike, particularly during the middle overs where boundaries were hard to come by.
McGrath found crucial support from Orla Prendergast, who provided stability and energy at the other end. Prendergast contributed 31 from 26 balls, striking two boundaries and a six. Together, they added a valuable 50-run partnership for the fourth wicket, pushing the Strikers closer to a competitive score. This partnership came at a pivotal time, helping Adelaide recover from the early dismissals and giving them a solid platform for the final overs.
Ellie Johnston’s Cameo
In the latter stages, Ellie Johnston injected much-needed momentum with a quick 15 off just eight balls. Her aggressive intent allowed the Strikers to capitalize on the death overs and inch towards a challenging total. With Johnston’s finishing burst, Adelaide managed to post 157 for 5 in their 20 overs, a score they could defend with disciplined bowling.
Among the Renegades’ bowlers, Sophie Molineux stood out with her two wickets for 39 runs from four overs, including the crucial dismissal of Katie Mack. Although her economy rate was on the higher side, Molineux’s knack for taking wickets made her a key contributor.
Georgia Wareham’s spell was even more impactful; her four overs cost only 13 runs, and she claimed the wicket of Laura Wolvaardt, applying significant pressure during the middle overs. With tight bowling from Wareham and key breakthroughs from Molineux, the Renegades managed to keep the Strikers in check and set up an intriguing chase.
Hayley Matthews Falls Early
The Melbourne Renegades’ chase began in dramatic fashion, but not in the way they had hoped. Right from the start, they found themselves under intense pressure as they lost three quick wickets within the first three overs. Hayley Matthews, one of their most explosive batters, was dismissed on the very first ball of the innings. Anesu Mushangwe bowled a brilliant delivery, drawing Matthews into a shot that led to a simple catch back to the bowler, putting the Renegades in a tight spot at 0 for 1.
Batting Collapse for the Renegades
Courtney Webb and Alice Capsey followed soon after, struggling to navigate the Strikers’ tight bowling. Webb attempted to build an innings but was dismissed in the second over, caught at mid-on while trying to accelerate. Capsey, a promising all-rounder known for her aggressive style, fell shortly afterward, leaving the Renegades reeling at 23 for 3. It was a disastrous start that put immense pressure on the middle and lower order, and it seemed the Renegades were headed toward an uphill battle.
Emma de Broughe and Georgia Wareham attempted to salvage the innings by providing some stability, but their contributions, though steady, were not enough to shift the momentum. De Broughe played a few nice shots, aiming to rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard ticking. However, she fell in the seventh over, and Wareham followed suit soon after, adding to the Renegades’ woes. By the halfway mark, the Renegades were struggling at 67 for 5, with the required run rate creeping up and the target of 158 looking ever more daunting.
Sophie Molineux Steals The Show
Just when the game seemed out of reach, Sophie Molineux, the Renegades’ captain, stepped in at number seven and completely changed the trajectory of the chase. Molineux played with fearless intent and confidence, launching a stunning counter-attack.
She was relentless, hammering the bowlers to all corners of the ground. Her innings of 64 off just 32 balls was an exhibition of powerful hitting under pressure. Molineux reached her fifty in only 21 balls, finding the boundary with ease and injecting a sudden surge of energy into the Renegades’ innings. Her knock included nine fours and three towering sixes, each one lifting the Renegades closer to their target.
Molineux’s partnership with Deandra Dottin proved to be pivotal. Dottin, known for her experience and ability to handle pressure situations, complemented Molineux’s aggression with smart shot selection and well-placed singles.
The two added 50 runs in just 26 balls, a quickfire stand that brought the Renegades back into contention. Dottin contributed a valuable 20 runs before she was dismissed by Darcie Brown, caught at deep midwicket. Molineux continued to battle on, but her innings came to an end in the 17th over when she was bowled by Jemma Barsby. Her dismissal at 139 for 7 left the Renegades needing 19 runs from the last three overs – a task that still demanded composure and precision from the lower order.
Faltum and Coyte Seal The Deal
With the game on a knife’s edge, Nicole Faltum and Sarah Coyte took on the responsibility of closing out the chase. They handled the pressure with remarkable poise, taking calculated singles and occasionally finding the boundary to keep the target within reach. By the final over, the Renegades needed just a handful of runs. As the tension peaked, it came down to the last ball, with the Renegades requiring four runs for victory.
Coyte, calm and composed, guided the final delivery through the off side, finding the gap and securing a dramatic, last-ball victory for the Renegades. The Renegades reached 158 for 8, completing one of the most thrilling chases in recent matches.
Molineux was rightfully named Player of the Match for her outstanding all-round performance, combining a breathtaking half-century with two crucial wickets earlier in the game. Her performance was instrumental in the Renegades’ victory, showcasing her leadership, skill, and ability to perform under pressure in this unforgettable encounter.
Brief Scores WBBL 2024: Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers – Match 14
Adelaide Strikers: 157/5 in 20 overs (Tahlia McGrath 64*, Orla Prendergast 31; Sophie Molineux 2/39, Georgia Wareham 1/13) lost to Melbourne Renegades: 158/8 in 20 overs (Sophie Molineux 64, Deandra Dottin 20; Darcie Brown 2/20, Jemma Barsby 2/17) by 2 wickets.
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