12:26 PM IST, 5:56 PM Local Time: That’s it. Melbourne Renegades Women make it two wins in a row. After getting off to a winning start, they carry forward the winning momentum and beat Sydney Thunder Women by four wickets here at Junction Oval. The Thunder Women remain winless in this edition of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).
Chasing 149, Davina Perrin hit three boundaries in the opening over against Shabnim Ismail before falling on the final ball. Courtney Webb (3) and Naomi Stalenberg (3) departed cheaply as the hosts were reduced to 23/3. Alice Capsey at three played some wonderful strokes and scored 30 before holing out in the deep in the ninth over. Skipper Georgia Wareham at five started positively.
Deandra Dottin (3) at six failed to make an impact. Wareham played some magnificent strokes and kept scoring at a brisk rate. She received good support from Nicole Faltum as both kept Thunder at bay. Wareham brought up a wonderful fifty off just 29 balls and took the game away from the visitors.
Wareham departed on 32-ball 58 with just four required to win. Faltum (37*) and Tess Flintoff (1*) provided the finishing touches as the Renegades Women chased down the total with four wickets in hand in 18.1 overs. Georgia Voll and Chamari Athapaththu registered identical figures of 2/24 for the Thunder Women but it wasn't enough as they failed to defend the total successfully.
After being asked to bat first, the Thunder Women got off to a solid start. Tahlia Wilson (30) and Georgia Voll (26) looked good at the crease and put 60 between them for the first wicket before both fell in a quick succession. The Renegades Women pulled back things by dismissing Phoebe Litchfield (12) and Chamari Athapaththu (0) in a space of six balls.
Heather Knight (30) and Anika Learoyd did well to gather some momentum by scoring 26 runs in the Power Surge. But the Renegades stormed back by picking up regular wickets at the back end of the innings. Learoyd’s cameo of 21-ball 31 helped the Thunder Women post 148/7 on the board. For the hosts, skipper Georgia Wareham (2/25) and Deandra Dottin (2/34) grabbed two scalps each.