In the 22nd match of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), Sydney Thunder defeated Sydney Sixers by 18 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Following this, the 23rd match saw reigning champions Adelaide Strikers, led by Tahlia McGrath, face off against Melbourne Renegades under Hayley Matthews at Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide.
Renegades skipper Hayley Matthews won the bat flip and chose to field first. Adelaide’s openers, Katie Mack and Smriti Mandhana, provided a terrific start with a 56-run partnership. Alice Capsey then secured the first breakthrough for the Renegades, with Deandra Dottin catching Mack, who departed for 19. On the first ball of the 9th over, Mandhana’s brisk innings came to an end when she was caught by Prestwidge off the bowling of Sarah Coyte, leaving the Strikers at 65/2.
Laura Wolvaardt joined the action and maintained a composed approach, scoring 27 off 27 deliveries and stitching a third-wicket partnership of 66 runs with skipper Tahlia McGrath, smashing 49 runs off just 24 balls with a strike rate of 204.16. She hit eight fours and one six, dominating the bowlers and providing a major boost to the Strikers’ total. McGrath’s dismissal came in the 17th over, caught by Stalenberg off Deandra Dottin.
After McGrath’s departure, Bridget Patterson scored 6 off 3 balls before being run out by Illingworth’s direct hit, while Madeline Penna chipped in with 6 off 5 balls. Both fell in quick succession, creating pressure on the lower order. Orla Prendergast gave the Strikers a strong finish, scoring 24 off just 12 balls, maintaining a strike rate of 200, before being run out. Her late cameo helped push the Strikers closer to the 190 mark, ending their innings at 185/7, at the end of 20 overs, setting up a challenging target for the chase.
The Renegades bowlers struggled to contain the aggressive Strikers’ batting lineup, with most of them going at over 9 runs per over. Skipper Hayley Matthews (4-0-28-2) and Sarah Coyte (3-0-19-1) were the top performers with the ball.
In response, Melbourne Renegades started strong with openers Hayley Matthews and Courtney Webb starting strong with an unbeaten 90-run opening partnership before Webb was forced to retire hurt at 37 runs off 29 balls, due to an injury, but by that point, the Renegades were comfortably placed at 90/0 after 9 overs. Alice Capsey joined in at number three but was soon dismissed by Orla Prendergast off Darcie Brown’s bowling for 4 runs.
Skipper Matthews led the chase and was joined by her countrymate Deandra Dottin, who took charge with an explosive 46* from just 18 balls, blasting 7 fours and 1 six at a stunning strike rate of 255.55. Matthews ended with a brilliant unbeaten knock of 85 off 54 balls, striking 12 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 157.40. Both the West Indian stars remained unbeaten, guiding the Renegades to the target with ease, with 17 balls to spare, emerging as key architects in the highest successful WBBL chase. Strikers struggled to keep up, with Darcie Brown being the only bowler to make a mark, taking 1 wicket for 43 runs in her 4 overs.
That was scary good from Hayley Matthews 😱#WBBL10 pic.twitter.com/JJPjGCu7Za
— Weber Women’s Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 11, 2024
Hayley Matthews was named the Player of the Match for her all-round performance, scoring a brilliant 85* off 54 balls and taking 2 wickets for 28 runs.
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