The 15th match of the seventh edition of Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) was played between Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers at the Aurora Stadium in Launceston on Sunday.
Toss
Melbourne Renegades won the toss and opted to bowl first.
Playing XI
Melbourne Renegades: Jemimah Rodrigues, Evelyn Jones, Courtney Webb, Harmanpreet Kaur, Sophie Molineux (c), Jess Duffin, Josephine Dooley (wk), Carly Leeson, Ella Hayward, Ellie Falconer, Holly Ferling
Sydney Sixers: Alyssa Healy (wk), Shafali Verma, Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry (c), Nicole Bolton, Angela Reakes, Maitlan Brown, Radha Yadav, Claire Moore, Lauren Cheatle, Stella Campbell
1st innings Sydney Sixers 118-4 in 20 overs
Riding on skipper Ellyse Perry’s unbeaten half-century, Sydney Sixers posted a modest 118-4 in 20 overs. The right hand middle order bat smashed 50 off 51 balls, hitting three boundaries and a six. After losing the opening pair of Alyssa Healy (5) and Shafali Verma (0) cheaply, Perry and Nicole Bolton (38) steadied the ship as they put together 80 runs for the fourth wicket. Ashleigh Gardner also did not have a good outing with the bat as she could only score seven. For Melbourne Renegades, it was the off spinner Harmanpreet Kaur, who was the pick of the bowlers, as India’s T20I captain struck with 2-17 in her four overs. Sophie Molineux and Courtney Webb chipped in with one wicket apiece.
2nd innings Melbourne Renegades 120-3 in 17 overs
In reply, Melbourne Renegades made a light work of the chase as they achieved the target in just 17 overs, winning the match by seven wickets. The opening pair of Evelyn Jones (38) and Jemimah Rodrigues (14) put together 43 runs in 5.3 overs to lay a solid foundation to the chase. Later, Courtney Webb (23) and Harmanpreet Kaur (35 not out) joined forces to take their team to a comfortable position. Kaur finished the game in style as she hit Gardner for a six. For Sydney Sixers, Stella Campbell and Radha Yadav accounted for one dismissal each.
Harmanpreet Kaur hits back-to-back sixes to help Renegades beat Sixers.
She scored 35 (29) #WBBL07 #WBBL2021 pic.twitter.com/sb5TIdXiKk
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 24, 2021
Player of the Match
Melbourne Renegades’ Harmanpreet Kaur won the player of the match for her brilliant all-rounder performance. The right hand scored an unbeaten 35 off 29 balls (4s: 1, 6s: 2) and the right arm off-spinner picked 2-17 in four overs.
Next fixtures
Melbourne Renegades will play against Sydney Thunder on October 27 at the Aurora Stadium in Launceston, while Sydney Sixers will lock horns against Melbourne Renegades again on October 30 at the Lilca Hill Park in Perth.
Brief Score
Sydney Sixers 118-4 in 20 overs (E Perry 50 not out; H Kaur 2-17) lost to Melbourne Renegades 120-3 in 17 overs (E Jones 38; S Campbell 1-13, R Yadav 1-12) by 7 wickets
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.