Matthews leads Renegades to WBBL title in rain-affected MCG final against Heat

[ad_1] The Melbourne Renegades have gone from backside to high, claiming their first WBBL title after downing the Brisbane Warmth by seven runs in a rain-affected last on the MCG.

West Indies star Hayley Matthews delivered an final all-round efficiency with bat and ball on Sunday, defying a late cameo from Warmth skipper Jess Jonassen.

The Brisbane all-rounder, who's making an attempt to win again her Australian spot, virtually single-handedly pulled her facet to the title with an unbeaten 44.

However Jonassen's opposing captain, Sophie Molineux, stored her nerve by bowling a good last over because the Warmth completed on 6-90, wanting their lowered goal of 98 from 12 overs.

Matthews started by crafting a restrained 69 in a complete of 9-141 after the Renegades have been despatched in to bat by Jonassen.

Her glowing knock, coming from 61 balls, was the best particular person rating in a WBBL last, breaking the report held by Australian star Beth Mooney (65) when she performed for the Warmth in 2019.

Matthews took the wickets of Charli Knott and Laura Harris in consecutive balls to finish her first over, making it extraordinarily troublesome for the Warmth to achieve their goal once they crumbled to 5-37.

The Warmth, who misplaced final 12 months's last in opposition to Adelaide, have been already in bother at 2-19 when the rain arrived.

Play was delayed for about 40 minutes, lowering the Warmth's innings by eight overs.

ABC Sport Day by day podcast ABC Sport Day by day is your day by day sports activities dialog. We dive into the most important story of the day and get you in control with every part else that is making headlines.

With stars Grace Harris and Jemimah Rodrigues already dismissed, the Warmth's problem acquired even more durable when power-hitter Grace Harris fell to Molineux.

After ending final in the course of the 2023-24 version, the Renegades misplaced the primary two video games this season earlier than catching hearth to be this event's dominant staff.

Matthews performed a lone hand within the Renegades innings as teammates stored falling round her, with Georgia Wareham (21) posting the second highest rating.

Rising stars Charli Knott (3-26) and Grace Parsons (2-29) have been probably the most prolific of the Warmth's bowlers, however Jonassen (1-25) additionally despatched down 4 helpful overs.

The Warmth will likely be ruing some sloppy fielding, particularly early within the innings.

Laura Harris value the Warmth when she took a ping on the stumps with no back-up, leading to 4 overthrows.

Whereas Matthews was on hearth, her fellow West Indies teammate Deandra Dottin was run out in horrific trend after her bat acquired caught within the floor simply wanting the road.

After deciding to play the decider on the MCG, as a substitute of the Junction Oval in St Kilda, when the Renegades received internet hosting rights, a crowd of 5,844 turned on Sunday in a pass-mark end result for Cricket Australia.