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So that concludes our coverage of yet another double-header at the WBBL. There are two more games lined up tomorrow as well and it sure promises to be a Super Saturday. Do join us as we bring it to you all right here on Sportskeeda while also keeping yourselves updated with further cricketing news and action from around the world on this very platform. For the moment, this is the duo of Pradeep Somashekar and Sooryanarayanan Sesha taking your leave. Thank you so much for tuning in as we hope you enjoyed our coverage. Have a cracking weekend ahead - buh-bye and take care!
Wow! That was some game alright. Matthews will be mighty pleased with her players for stepping up and with plenty to play for in her own words, the 'Gades will want to finish their campaign with a few more wins. As for the Heat, this loss will hurt but having come very close to pulling it off, will take the positives out of it as they move forward. Especially the form of Nicola Hancock and the fact that Grace Harris is back amongst the runs - that's going to be massive heading into the business end of the tournament alright.
Hayley Matthews is the Player of the Match! Here's what she has to say: Look I felt like what I needed to do in the last over, had to execute it well and pulled it off. Had to keep just going, knew Harris was a key wicket and if we hold on to the nerve till the end, Coyte to bowl in the death, we knew we could do it and the contributions coming all around. Really, really happy, we know we haven't been playing as well as we wanted to and we're quite disappointed with that but with four games to go, we still needed to show lot of faith and show that we still lot to bring into the tournament, hopefully we can cap off the tournament on a high. As I said, contributions from all the players, Emma de Broughe, second game and she played well and took on the Heat bowlers. Georgia Wareham, senior player stepping up really well, Sarah Coyte and was really good to see in the team.
Match Summary: Melbourne Renegades beat Brisbane Heat by 2 runs.
They were down and out prior to this game. But when the Renegades came out today, they seemed a different team. Across facets, they looked extra determined to show that they're a much better team than what the points table suggests. And they have come up trumps in the most epic fashion at the Allan Border Field.
Chasing 170, the Brisbane Heat got off to a flyer with Grace Harris setting the tone early on. Georgia Redmayne couldn't get going at her end but Harris was unstoppable as she placed the ball beautifully and relied a lot on her timing without necessarily looking to blast it out of sight. Bess Heath looked in good nick herself but her wicket triggered a string of regular dismissals with Amelia Kerr and Mignon du Preez also failing to leave their mark on the game.
As long as Harris was out there though, the Heat were always on course as she whipped up a brisk half-century. The Power Surge was activated in the 12th over but Sarah Coyte struck gold as she breached Harris' defense with an incredible slower one in the 13th over to put the 'Gades on top. Automatically, the runs dried up as Georgia Voll and Charli Knott were kept quiet before the former perished to Harmanpreet Kaur.
Jess Jonassen had a tough time with the ball but a string of boundaries off Harmanpreet in the 18th over suddenly put the Heat back on course despite the asking rate shooting up. It seemed like all was lost once Coyte got past Jonassen but then, Nicola Hancock came out of nowhere to club a four and a six and bring it down to just six needed off the last over. Skipper Hayley Matthews entrusted herself with the responsibility of closing it out and so she did with a magnificent display of defensive bowling to deny Hancock and the Heat. The 'Gades, after a long string of losses, have finally salvaged their second win in 11 attempts this season, upsetting the Heat when not many expected them to.
Captain Marvel Hayley Matthews! The keeper Josie Dooley stood back for that final delivery in order to cut off the chances of the ball trickling away fine. Full props to the 'Gades as the skipper shows the way in the final over. What a match! After a full 40-over thriller, Melbourne Renegades hold on for dear life by 2 runs!
20
overs
167/9score
1
1
0
1
0
w
runs
Nicola Hancock*
17(9)
Courtney Sippel
3(5)
Hayley Matthews
1/29
19.6 Hayley Matthews to Nicola Hancock, RUN-OUT! THAT'S IT! MATTHEWS HOLDS ON TO HER NERVE! What a thriller this turned out to be and Renegades break the 8 game losing streak here! Fires a full delivery outside the off-stump, Hancock reaches to sweep and misses, through to the keeper. They look to steal an improbable single as the throw comes to Matthews who whips the bails off and Hancock is well short.
Courtney Sippel run out (Josie Dooley/Hayley Matthews) 3 (5b, 0x4, 0x6)
19.5 Hayley Matthews to Nicola Hancock, ANOTHER DOT! Matthews is so doing it for Renegades here. Length delivery outside the off-stump, Hancock plants her front foot forward for a big hoick and misses.
It has to be Hancock, doesn't it? Surely, she's getting this done? 3 needed off 2...
19.4 Hayley Matthews to Courtney Sippel, floated a full delivery on the middle and leg, Sippel whipped it past diving short mid-wicket and picks up another single.