The script couldn’t have been written any better.
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Nicole Faltum and Tess Flintoff kept a cool head to lift the Melbourne Renegades to victory over their former side the Melbourne Stars on Sunday.
Chasing the Stars’ 7-141, Faltum and Flintoff came together needing 21 off 19 balls after the departure of in-form all-rounder Georgia Wareham.
A boundary from Faltum to start the 18th put the Renegades on the front foot but they were again behind the run rate ahead of the penultimate over.
Flintoff eased run rate pressure by clubbing Annabel Sutherland over mid-wicket and between the fielders for six.
She the landed the killer blow by hitting Sutherland over cover for four to ensure her new side would continue its form over the cross-town rival.
Flintoff finished 17 not out from just nine balls while Faltum scored 7 from her five deliveries.
The Renegades reached their target with four wickets and seven balls to spare but it was far from easy.
As it was for both sides, consistent wickets never allowed any batter to get truly set and able to cash in on a foundation.
The Renegades, with a top eight laden in international quality, eventually just outmuscled the Stars in a tight game full of ebbs and flows.
The Stars got to 141 through starts from Rhys McKenna (32), Sutherland (29) and Kim Garth (29) but left runs in the middle of Junction Oval with a poor power surge.
SINKING SURGE
It pumped the brakes on the Stars’ innings.
The Melbourne Stars’ total could have been much higher if it wasn’t for a disastrous power surge.
They had hit 23 runs off the previous two overs but were put on the back foot by losing 2-2 after taking the surge.
It rocked the Stars but brought Kim Garth to the crease, who made an important 29 at the back end of the innings.
SHARP WORK
Amy Jones put the game back on a knife’s edge.
The Stars wicketkeeper removed Melbourne Renegades captain Sophie Molineux with a sharp stumping off the bowling of Marizanne Kapp.
Molineux (32 off 32 balls) had put on 58 with Courtney Webb (37 off 36), steering the Renegades out of early trouble and into a sturdier position.
STARS STEAL ONE
The Stars got one to go their way early.
Melbourne Renegades opener Davina Perrin was given out LBW to Kim Garth in the second over of her side’s chase and didn’t review.
It looked leg side on the replay and the ball tracker later confirmed it was missing leg.
Garth was the pick of the Stars’ bowlers with 2-16 off three overs.
Flintoff guides Renegades to Derby win | 01:07
DEVINE DELIGHT: SCORCHERS SKIPPER SPURS VICTORY
The skipper led from the front.
Perth Scorchers captain Sophie Devine ripped through the Adelaide Strikers top order to set up a cruising win at Junction Oval on Sunday.
Devine collected the first three wickets of the match, dismissing dangerous batters Laura Wolvaardt, Madeline Penna and Tahlia McGrath.
She was getting the ball to move in the air before jagging it the other way off the seam.
The piece de resistance in Devine’s spell of 3-12 off three overs was the wicket of her opposing captain McGrath.
It swung in and then seamed away before crashing into the stumps.
“That is the ball of the WBBL,” former Kiwi star Katey Martin said on the broadcast.
Devine’s effort helped the Scorchers steam roll the Strikers for 112 in 17.4 overs.
She was then at the crease with bat on 5 not out when the temperamental Melbourne weather ended the game prematurely.
Courtesy of Devine and Katie Mack at the other end on 24 not out, the Scorchers (2-55 off 9.1) were nine runs ahead of the Strikers on par score when the game was called.
The result continues an indifferent start to the season for the Strikers, who now have a no result, a win and a loss.
The Scorchers, meanwhile, are back level at 2-2 with the winless Sydney Thunder to come on Wednesday.
STRANGE CHOICE
A match-up or misfire?
Adelaide Striker Sophie Ecclestone bowled a tight and threatening over which led to a pressure induced wicket at the other end.
But the Strikers overlooked Ecclestone when the ball got back to her end and opted with seamer Darcie Brown instead.
While Brown has a strong record against Sophie Devine, who was the new batter at the time, the over went for nine runs and eased the pressure the Strikers had built.
BRILLIANT BETH
Beth Mooney can do most things on a cricket field – including square leg umpiring.
Mooney produced a tidy piece of work behind the stumps to close out the Strikers innings.
She stumped Striker Darcie Brown off the bowling of Scorchers debutant Ruby Strange and instead of appealing, Mooney just said “yep” and took off celebrating.
It was close on the referral but Mooney’s eye was as sharp as her glovework.
Mooney didn’t have as much swagger with the bat however, making a rare first ball duck.
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