Molineux’s Heroics and Bhatia’s Composure Lead Melbourne Teams to Victory in WBBL

Sophie Molineux’s explosive 64 off 32 balls powered the Melbourne Renegades to a thrilling last-ball victory over the Adelaide Strikers, who were aiming to defend their title. After Strikers captain Tahlia McGrath scored an unbeaten 64, guiding her team to 157 for 5, the Renegades struggled initially, reduced to 29 for 3 in the powerplay. However, Molineux’s blistering knock, featuring nine fours and three sixes, changed the momentum, setting a new record for a player batting at No. 7 or lower in WBBL.

Molineux utilized the power surge brilliantly, taking 18 runs off Anesu Mushangwe and 13 off Megan Schutt to keep the Renegades in contention. Although she fell to Jemma Barsby, Nicole Faltum held her nerve, hitting the winning runs off the last ball. With this win, the Renegades evened their season record at 2-2, while the Strikers dropped to 1-3 in their quest for a third consecutive title.

In the day’s earlier match, Yastika Bhatia’s composed 57 off 46 balls led the Melbourne Stars to a comfortable seven-wicket win over the Hobart Hurricanes. Chasing 133, Bhatia received strong support from Meg Lanning and captain Annabel Sutherland, as the Stars reached their target with 13 balls to spare. Hurricanes’ Nicola Carey and Chloe Tryon had earlier lifted their team to 133 for 7, but it proved insufficient against a disciplined Stars chase.

Heather Graham and Nicola Carey provided resistance, but Bhatia’s partnership with Lanning, who helped her strategize during the power surge, secured the Stars’ victory.