MELBOURNE, Australia, CMC – West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews failed with the bat but then picked up a brace of vital wickets as Melbourne Renegades posted their first win of the Women’s Big Bash League with a dominant 81-run win over Adelaide Strikers.
The stylish right-hander managed only 12, but Courtney Webb top-scored with 49 not out from 34 balls, while Indian batting star Harmanpreet Kaur chipped in with an unbeaten 43 from 33 deliveries to propel Renegades up to 167 for three off their 20 overs.
In reply, Strikers were humbled for 86 in the 15th over, Matthews claiming two for 20 from her three overs to be one of four bowlers – Kaur (2-11), Ella Hayward (2-18), Georgia Wareham (2-23) – with two wickets.
Captain Tahlia McGrath led with 31 from 25 deliveries, but Matthews knocked her over in the 12th to trigger a terminal slide.
Renegades lie third in the eight-team standings but are one of five sides on two points, including Strikers, who are fourth.
Unbeaten Brisbane Heat, who beat Renegades in their opening game last week, top the standings with four points.
Sent in at Junction Oval, Renegades lost Matthews in the third over to a return catch by off-spinner Georgia Adams, with 19 runs on the board.
However, England opener Tammy Beaumont (30) and Josephine Dooley (23) put on 51 for the second wicket before Web and Kaur combined in an unbroken 93-run, fourth-wicket partnership to rally the back end.
Renegades then held the advantage when 20-year-old off-spinner Hayward knocked over both openers – South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt (14) and Katie Mack (3) – cheaply. Still, McGrath hauled her side back into contention with a knock that included four fours and a six.
Once she lofted Matthews into the lap of deep mid-wicket, however, Strikers lost their last seven wickets for 21 runs
and then 