[Watch] Melbourne Renegades beat Brisbane Heat to clinch maiden WBBL title
Nicola Hancock’s last ball six ended in vain as Melbourne Renegades beat Brisbane Heat by seven runs via the DLS method to clinch their maiden Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) trophy in Melbourne on Sunday, December 1. Defending 98, the Renegades restricted the Heat to 90/6 in their allotted 12 overs.
This was Renegades’ skipper Sophie Molineux’s second T20 league trophy this year, having won the Women’s Premier League (WPL) with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Batting first, Melbourne Renegades put up 141/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Hayley Matthews starred with the bat, scoring 69 runs off 61 balls, a knock laced with eight boundaries. Georgia Wareham and Naomi Stalenberg were the other two batters to reach double digits, scoring 21 (21) and 16 (12), respectively.
Chalri Knott emerged as the leading wicket-taker, picking up three wickets, while Grace Parsons bagged two. Meanwhile, Nicola Hancock, Lucy Hamilton, and skipper Jonassen scalped one apiece.
In response, Jonassen put up a lone fight, scoring an unbeaten 44 off 28 deliveries, comprising one six and five boundaries but failed to take the team over the line. Georgia Redmayne and Hancock chipped in with 16 (15) and 13* (6), respectively.
Hayley Matthews picked up two wickets for the Renegades, while Charis Bekker, Milly Illingworth, Sophie Molineux, and Deandra Dottin scalped one each.
Watch the 2024 WBBL final winning moment below:
“We didn’t panic” – Sophie Molineux on Melbourne Renegades’ turnaround in 2024 WBBL final
Melbourne Renegades captain Sophie Molineux credited the team for their brilliant turnaround despite managing a modest target in the WBBL final.
She said in the post-match show (via ESPNcricinfo):
“Pure elation, it hasn't quite sunk it. Plenty of highs and a lot of lows. There have been plenty of people supporting us, good to get some smiles on their faces. It didn't go to plan initially, but we didn't panic."
"We knew deep down we had the quality so we just had to level. Our coaches were magnificent and told us not to panic. It's a real honor to captain this team, it means so much to me,” she added.
List of WBBL winners:
2016: Sydney Thunder beat Syndey Sixers by three wickets
2017: Sydney Sixers beat Perth Scorchers by seven runs
2018: Sydney Sixers beat Perth Scorchers by nine wickets
2019: Brisbane Heat beat Sydney Sixers by three wickets
2019: Brisbane Heat beat Adelaide Strikers by six wickets
2020: Sydney Thunder beat Melbourne Stars by seven wickets
2021: Perth Scorchers beat Adelaide Strikers by 12 runs
2022: Adelaide Strikers beat Sydney Sixers by 10 runs
2023: Adelaide Strikers beat Brisbane Heat by three runs
2024: Melbourne Renegades beat Brisbane Heat by seven runs