Summary: Match 24: Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades.
A Captain’s knock from Jessica Duffin helps Melbourne Renegades win over Hobart Hurricanes by 4 wickets in a last-ball thriller at Junction Oval on Saturday.
Winning the toss, Renegades skipper opted to bowl on a good batting surface. Hurricanes did not have the great of the starts and the problem with opening combination continued as openers failed to provide a good start. Both Fazackerley and Phillips got out at 8 and 15 respectively. Even the in-form batter Knight and Carey failed to score big. It looked like Hobart would end up with a below-par score.
There came a twist in the tale as Fran Wilson and Skipper Hall had an excellent partnership which took Hurricanes out from the trouble, the duo had a stand of 92 runs which helped Hurricanes to touch 150 mark. Hall scored an unbeaten 50* including 5 fours, whereas Wilson scored 45. In the end, Hurricanes finished at 150 for 5 in 20 overs. With the ball, it was the two young spinners Strano and Molineux who picked up a couple of wickets for Renegades.
Chasing the target of 151, like Hurricanes, Renegades too did not have a great start. Openers and the middle order dismissed cheaply. Renegades were struggling at 53 for 4. All credits to Hurricanes who bowled well in the beginning. Likewise, Hurricanes, when the team was in trouble the Skipper Duffin came in to save their team.
Jessica Duffin who is in the form of her life played an excellent and match-winning knock of 75 runs which made Renegades win over the Hurricanes in the very last ball of the match. The skipper played calculating as well as aggressive, she scored 75 of just 49 balls including 8 fours and 4 sixes. She also got good support from Webb who scored a helpful 33 runs. In the end, with the wickets of Duffin and Webb, it looked like the game would swing in Hurricanes favor but the bowling all-rounders Wareham and Brown did not let that happen as they successfully chased the target in a thrilling way on the very last ball of the match.
This is third defeat to Hurricanes after a decent start to the season. For Renegades, with this win, they are back in the tournament and all the upcoming matches are very important for both the teams to be alive in the tournament.
Brief Scores: Hurricanes 150 for 5 in 20 overs (Hall 50* & Molineux 2 for 25) lost to Renegades 151 for 6 in 20 overs ( Duffin 75 & Vakerawa 2 for 21) by 4 wickets
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