Melbourne Renegades defeated Sydney Thunder by nine wickets to move to the top of the WBBL standings. Renegades bowled out Thunder for 133 in 19.1 overs, with Sophie Molineux leading the charge, taking 4 wickets for 23 runs at Melbourne’s Junction Oval.
In reply, Renegades made light work of the target, reaching 137 for 1 in just 14.2 overs. Hayley Matthews led the charge, scoring an unbeaten 60 from 37 balls, while Molineux capped her all-round performance with 42 not out from 29 balls. The pair shared an unbroken 95-run partnership, steering their side to victory.
With the win, Renegades surged to 14 points, overtaking Thunder (13 points) for the top spot on the ladder. Meanwhile, Brisbane Heat (12 points) will need a big win over Sydney Sixers to challenge for the top two positions and secure a home grand final. Additionally, Perth Scorchers (nine points) hold fourth place and will face Hobart Hurricanes in their final regular-season game, with the result likely determining who enters the finals.
Thunder’s batting struggled, with no top-order player able to capitalize on starts. Phoebe Litchfield top-scored with 30 runs off 17 balls, while No. 7 Sammy-Jo Johnson made 21 off 19 balls. The Thunder lost their final seven wickets for just 38 runs after being well-placed at 95 for 3 in the 12th over. Molineux’s outstanding spell, including 12 dot balls, played a key role in their collapse.
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