Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Oliver Caffrey

Melbourne Renegades take down Strikers in WBBL upset

Melbourne Renegades scored a huge WBBL upset with an 81-run defeat of the Adelaide Strikers. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Melbourne Renegades have upset reigning champions Adelaide Strikers by 81 runs, continuing the streak of WBBL teams batting first coming out on top.

Strikers captain Tahlia McGrath won the toss and elected to bowl first at the Junction Oval in Melbourne on Monday.

After stumbling early, the Renegades surged home through Indian star Harmanpreet Kaur (43 not out) and Courtney Webb (49 no) to post 3-167.

The Strikers, who crushed the Melbourne Stars in record-breaking fashion on Saturday night, were overwhelmed from the start of their chase and collapsed to be all-out for 86 in the 15th over.

In all seven games of this WBBL so far, the team winning the toss has sent the opposition in and lost.

Kaur and Webb's unbeaten 93-run partnership built the platform for the Renegades' first win of the season, following their opening match defeat to Brisbane on Friday.

The pair smashed 61 runs from the last five overs to blast the Renegades to a competitive total.

Adelaide put down three catches, including two by Jemma Barsby.

The Renegades' West Indies superstar Hayley Matthews looked dangerous opening the batting but was out for 12 after spooning a simple catch back to bowler Georgia Adams.

But later, bowling in a hat and sunglasses, Matthews (2-20) displayed her star quality with the ball by claiming the key wicket of McGrath (31).

McGrath was dropped on four and threatened to keep the Strikers in the match until she scooped a catch to Georgia Wareham (2-23).

The Renegades received a major boost when Sarah Coyte ran out Bridget Patterson with a diving effort off her own bowling, throwing the ball back with a direct hit at the batter's stumps.

Adelaide will remain in Melbourne ahead of another clash with the Stars at the Junction Oval on Tuesday.

The Stars will be desperate to make amends for their capitulation in Adelaide on Saturday night when they were all-out for 29 - the lowest total in WBBL history.

The Renegades have two days off before flying to Sydney for Thursday's match against the Thunder.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.