Danielle Wyatt’s impressive 55-ball 87 runs and skipper Jessica Duffin’s unbeaten 27-ball 50 runs helped Melbourne Renegades keep their chances of going into the finals of the Women’s Big Bash League alive after they pulled off the highest ever chase in the history of the tournament.
Having opted to bowl first at the Allan Border Field, Brisbane, the Renegades watched Beth Mooney blitz a 57-ball 86 as the hosts, Brisbane Heat, racked up an impressive 183 for 4 from their 20 overs. Mooney added 110 runs for the second wicket with Jess Jonassen, who chipped in with a useful 34-ball 51 as the hosts piled a huge score.
To chase the target of 184 runs in a must-win game, Wyatt, who had earlier chipped in with two wickets found support, first from Tammy Beaumont (23), with whom she added 74 runs from 45 balls and then with Duffin, with whom she forged a 69-run partnership off 41 balls. Wyatt missed out on a well-deserved hundred, but Duffin ensured that the hard work didn’t go to waste. Despite the defeat, Heat stays on top with 18 points from 13 games while Renegades have kept themselves in the hunt for the fourth-place finish, tying with the Sixers from Sydney, who have 12 points from an equal number of games.
Brief Scores – Brisbane Heat 185 for 4 (Beth Mooney 87, Jess Jonassen 51, Danielle Wyatt 2 for 26) lost to Melbourne Renegades 185 for 4 (Wyatt 87, Jessica Duffin 50*) by six wickets.
