• Melbourne Renegades clinched their first WBBL title with win over Brisbane Heat in a rain-interrupted thriller.

  • Hayley Matthews was named Player of the Match for her excellent all-round performance in the summit clash.

Twitter reactions: Melbourne Renegades lift their maiden WBBL Trophy after beating Brisbane Heat in a rain-affected final
WBBL 2024

Table of Contents

The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2024-25 final between the Melbourne Renegades and Brisbane Heat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was a captivating encounter marred by rain interruptions. The Renegades, led by Hayley Matthews‘ scintillating knock, set a challenging target of 141/9 in their 20 overs. The Heat’s chase, revised to 98 runs in 12 overs under the DLS method, saw a valiant effort from skipper Jess Jonassen, but the Renegades emerged victorious by 7 runs to claim the championship for the first time ever. Matthews was eventually  Player of the Match for her excellent all-round performance in the summit clash.

Melbourne Renegades set a stiff target for Brisbane Heat

Opting to bat first, the Renegades overcame early setbacks thanks to a masterclass from Matthews. Her well-paced 69 off 61 balls anchored the innings amidst regular wickets, forming crucial partnerships with Georgia Wareham (21 off 21) and Naomi Stalenberg (16 off 12). Matthews’ calculated aggression in the middle overs and a late surge helped push the total to a competitive 141. The Heat’s bowling unit, led by Charli Knott (3/28), kept the Renegades under pressure, with Grace Parsons and Jonassen chipping in with vital breakthroughs. However, the Renegades’ late flourish added invaluable runs, giving their bowlers a defendable target in the high-stakes final.

Rain alters the chase dynamics in the WBBL 2024 final

The Heat’s pursuit of 142 started poorly, losing Grace Harris and Jemimah Rodrigues early. At 19/2 in 3.2 overs, rain interrupted play, forcing a revised target of 98 in 12 overs under the DLS method. Georgia Redmayne and Knott attempted to consolidate but failed to convert starts, leaving skipper Jonassen with an uphill task. Jonassen single-handedly kept the Heat in contention with a superb unbeaten 44 off 28 balls, showcasing her trademark composure and hitting prowess. However, a disciplined Renegades bowling attack, led by Matthews (2/24), chipped away at the batting lineup, ensuring no substantial partnerships developed.

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A fitting finish to a memorable season

As the match reached its climax, Jonassen’s late blitz brought the equation down to 13 runs needed off the final over. Despite her heroics, the Renegades held their nerve, with Charis Bekker and Milly Illingworth delivering clutch performances. Matthews’ all-round brilliance, complemented by a collective bowling effort, sealed the title for the Renegades. This victory marks a historic WBBL 2024/25 campaign for the Renegades, characterized by resilience, tactical acumen, and standout individual performances. The rain-affected thriller will be remembered as a testament to the intensity and unpredictability of T20 cricket.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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