Tie-break thriller
A DRAMATIC finish nearly cost the Melbourne Renegades a certain win in the WBBL match in Geelong yesterday.
But the host side held on for a stunning super-over win against the star-studded Sydney Sixers after the match finished a tie in bizarre circumstances.
Chasing the Renegades’ total of 7-120, the Sixers needed three to win, or two to tie, off the last ball of the T20 match.
When Sarah Aley flicked an Amy Satterthwaite delivery straight to short fine-leg for a single, the Renegades looked to have a one-run victory sewn up.
But Renegades wicket keeper Emma Inglis threw the ball up in celebration before the ball had been declared dead, giving the Sixers the chance to run a game-tying second run.
Aley, showing tremendous match awareness, scampered back for a second run to tie the scores — her quick thinking beating the desperate efforts of Satterthwaite who cottoned on to what was happening but couldn’t execute the run out.
“You sort of learnt in the moment what it means for the ball to be dead, so we’ve had to swallow our pride on that one and move on and focus on the super over,” Renegades captain Satterthwaite said.
“It got hit to short fine-leg and she’s (Kris Britt) thrown it back into the keeper, who’s caught it and I guess in the girls’ minds they thought that was dead — often when the keeper catches it that’s been the case.
“But she threw it up in the air so the batters took off for another run. So don’t celebrate too early is the lesson we’ve learnt today.
“The umpires were saying it’s not over until the batters stop running so in that case we have to hold the ball.”
But it didn’t cost them the match as they regained their composure to restrict the visitors to 2-8 off their super over, before chasing the winning runs. “There was certainly a lot of emotion going. I think there was a bit of frustration and anger, but I think being out in the field again helped us to regather,” Satterthwaite said.
“We had five minutes and the message to the girls was we’ve got to let this emotion go.”
The Sixers had a late grip on the match at 2-81 before Maitland Brown claimed a stunning catch to remove Ellyse Perry (37 off 41) in the 13th over.
Then consecutive wickets in the 15th over brought two new batters to the crease, giving the Renegades belief they could restrict the travelling side.
Satterthwaite claimed player of the match honours, compiling 44 off 44 balls before taking 1-21 with the ball.