The 21st match of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL|11) saw the Sydney Thunder take on the Melbourne Renegades at Sydney’s Drummoyne Oval on Sunday. The game was a remarkable showcase of the Melbourne Renegades’ supremacy, led by the outstanding all-round performance of Alice Capsey. The Renegades dominated the Thunder from the start, wrapping up a comfortable eight-wicket victory with more than half the innings to spare.
Alice Capsey’s all-round show against Sydney Thunder
Capsey was the star of the match with her exceptional all-round display. With the ball, she bowled three overs conceding just 12 runs and took two crucial wickets, denting the Thunder’s fragile batting line-up. Her dismissals contributed significantly to restricting Sydney Thunder to a low total of 64 runs in 17 overs, one of the lowest team totals in WBBL history. Capsey’s two wickets were pivotal in breaking partnerships and maintaining pressure on the Thunder batters.
With the bat, Capsey continued her impactful contribution, scoring an unbeaten 24 runs off 20 balls with a strike rate of 120. Her innings was crucial in steering the chase smoothly for the Renegades. Paired with captain Sophie Molineux, who added 29 not out, Capsey helped the Renegades reach the target of 65 runs by the 11.1 over mark, underscoring her value as a genuine all-rounder. This performance earned her the Player of the Match award for the game.
Melbourne Renegades’ commanding victory in WBBL|11 match
After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, the Melbourne Renegades showcased their bowling prowess through a well-orchestrated spin attack. Charis Bekker, Georgia Wareham (3/12), Molineux, and Capsey kept the Thunder batsmen under constant pressure. The Thunder struggled to build any meaningful innings, losing quick wickets at regular intervals, including key dismissals early in the innings such as Georgia Voll (9 runs) and Phoebe Litchfield (5 runs).
The Renegades’ disciplined bowling restricted Sydney Thunder to a paltry 64 runs, the third-lowest total in the history of the WBBL. In response, the Renegades opened their innings cautiously but effectively. Despite an early loss of two wickets—Courtney Webb (4) and Emma de Broughe (8)—the partnership between Molineux and Capsey anchored the chase. Their composed batting ensured the Renegades secured an emphatic eight-wicket win with 53 balls remaining, a dominant display in the league. This victory propelled Melbourne Renegades to second place on the WBBL points table with four wins from six matches.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
