Being set into bat by the Renegades, opener, Rachel Priest, continued her form with the bat, 42 runs top-scoring for the match with off 37 balls. With cameos from both fellow opener, Naomi Stalenberg (15 off 12), and power-hitter, Chloe Tryon (36 off 23), as well as some stellar running between the wickets from those lower down the order, the ‘Canes finished their innings with the bat at 7-143, setting the Renegades a target of 144 to win.
The Renegades mixed up their batting order to see Carly Leeson open with Sophie Molineux. It was a decision that paid off for the ‘Canes, with opening bowler, Belinda Vakawera, dismissing Leeson for a duck in her first over. ‘Gades Captain, Amy Satterthwaite, steadied her team’s ship however, with a steadfast knock of 30 off 36 paving the way for Lizelle Lee, Courtney Webb and Josie Dooley to all score at a strike rate in excess of 100.
When Vakawera was blinded by the lights and dropped the dangerous Lee in the 15th over there was the thought that she potentially could go on with it and win the game for the ‘Gades. But two overs later – in exactly the same position on the boundary – an attempt to hit for six off the bowling of Hayley Matthews fell short, and Vakawera made sure her earlier drop was not a costly one, securing the catch.
The equation came down to the Renegades requiring 17 runs off the final over for victory – a tall order, but not impossible. The ball was thrown to Vakawera to bowl at the death, and she stood up to the pressure, with just seven runs and the wicket of Webb coming off it.
Matthews was named Player of the Match, after a well-rounded performance than included 20 off 25 with the bat, and 2-19 with the ball.
The Hurricanes will now look ahead towards another weekend of back-to-back matches. First up they will host the Sydney Sixers at the Sydney Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon, before backing up to take on the Brisbane Heat at Drummoyne Oval on Sunday.