Contributions from both Renegades internationals Eve Jones and Harmanpreet Kaur helped secure a thrilling win to go back tot the top of the WBBL ladder. Image: @RenegadesWBBL. Twitter
After a weekend of low-scoring WBBL matches, it was runs galore on Wednesday night at Great Barrier Reef Arena.
A newly-prepared pitch was ready for the Renegades and the Thunder, who faced off in a mid-week showdown.
Renegades’ opening batter Eve Jones said it was a good batting wicket.
“It was a pretty true pitch, it was a good wicket to bat on so we knew we had to get a big score to defend,” she said.
“The pitch was a new one, apparently last weekend’s games were on a wicket that was much slower.
“We got ourselves to a good target but we knew we still had to fight, we really held on at the end there.”
Jones scored 42 and built a strong partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur who reached 81 not out.
After the Renegades started 2-9 off two overs, they reached 4-175.
The Renegades were almost charged down in the last over, with a masterful batting display from Smriti Mandhana.
Her knock of 114 not out was not enough for the Thunder, who fell four runs short.
Jones said Indian star Harmanpreet Kaur’s knock really solidified the Renegades’ innings.
“It was really good to form that partnership with Harmanpreet, it was really important for us,” she said.
“She came out when we were two down for not many, so there was a chance the game was going to turn ugly but we reset.
“We knew we had to spend a little bit of time out there and it’d get easier the longer we were there.”
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It was Melbourne’s first game in its Mackay trip, with temperatures expected to remain around 30 degrees and 80 percent humidity.
Jones said she welcomed the warmer weather.
“It was quite warm out there, I’m not sure I’ll like it as much when the sun’s out,” she said.
“I love the heat, it’s all about getting out there and experiencing it all, it’s part of the game.”
The win leaves Renegades on top of the WBBL ladder, with clashes against Hobart and Brisbane in Mackay to come.
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