Wyatt-Hodge Guides Hurricanes to Record Chase, Renegades Topple Scorchers
The Renegades made the chase look easy, with Courtney Webb scoring her highest WBBL score of 61 off 54 balls. She and Matthews (41 runs) forged a strong opening partnership of 102 runs, ensuring the Renegades reached their target with 14 balls to spare.
Hobart Hurricanes vs. Brisbane Heat
The Hobart Hurricanes chased down 174 runs, led by a remarkable performance from England's Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who scored 62 runs off just 35 balls. The Hurricanes finished their innings at 176 for 3, securing a seven-wicket victory with two balls to spare. This match marked the end of the Brisbane Heat's unbeaten start to the season.
The Brisbane Heat had set a challenging target of 173 for 5, bolstered by Grace Harris's impressive 75 and an innings of 45 from Maddy Green. Despite putting down four catches, the Hurricanes quickly took charge of the chase. Wyatt-Hodge's innings included six fours and three sixes, showcasing her aggressive yet calculated batting style.
After sharing a solid opening partnership of 55 runs with Lizelle Lee, who contributed 38 runs, Wyatt-Hodge continued to anchor the innings. Even after Lee's dismissal, Wyatt-Hodge maintained the pressure on the Heat bowlers, leaving the Hurricanes needing 33 runs off the final three overs.
While Grace Parsons had a notable performance for the Heat with figures of 1 for 15 in four overs, including Wyatt-Hodge’s wicket, it was Elyse Villani’s crucial boundaries in the final over that secured the record chase for the Hurricanes, eclipsing their previous best of 145 runs set against Melbourne Stars in 2021.
“I thought the pitch was a little bit on the slow side. I just kept it simple really, if the ball was in my areas then go for it,” Wyatt-Hodge said post-match. “Just play attacking cricket but being smart about it.”
Melbourne Renegades vs. Perth Scorchers
In the second match of the day, the Melbourne Renegades achieved a significant victory over the Perth Scorchers, winning by six wickets after restricting the heavyweights to just 140 runs. The Renegades’ triumph was highlighted by Sophie Molineux's outstanding bowling performance, where she took 4 wickets for only 17 runs, contributing to the Scorchers’ batting collapse.
The Scorchers struggled throughout their innings, with their ten wickets falling exclusively to spin bowlers. Beth Mooney top-scored for the Scorchers with 36 runs, but after her dismissal, the team struggled to build partnerships. The Renegades’ spin attack, including Molineux, Hayley Matthews, Alice Capsey, and Georgia Wareham, kept the pressure on, dismantling the Scorchers' batting lineup.
The Renegades made the chase look easy, with Courtney Webb scoring her highest WBBL score of 61 off 54 balls. She and Matthews (41 runs) forged a strong opening partnership of 102 runs, ensuring the Renegades reached their target with 14 balls to spare.
With these results, the Sydney Thunder currently sit at the top of the ladder, followed by the Brisbane Heat, while the two-time defending champions, the Adelaide Strikers, find themselves at the bottom of the table early in the shortened season.
The day's matches highlighted the unpredictable nature of the tournament, with standout performances from players like Wyatt-Hodge and Molineux steering their teams to crucial victories.
