South African slugger snaps Sixers’ undefeated streak
Rob Forsaith |
Chloe Tryon’s clean striking has ended Sydney Sixers’ undefeated start to the WBBL season, lifting Melbourne Renegades to a thrilling final-ball win.
Ashleigh Gardner delivered with bat and ball on Sunday at North Sydney Oval, where her quick-fire 55 piloted the Sixers to a total of 6-152 as they sought to secure a sixth victory from as many games this summer.
The Renegades crashed to 4-44 in response, with Gardner’s offspin removing three of their top four batters.
A captain’s knock of 38 from Sophie Molineux restored the Renegades’ hopes of victory in a topsy-turvy match.
The visitors entered the final over, delivered by Gardner, at 7-140 and still in need of a further 13 runs.
Nicole Faltum scored a pivotal single, handing strike to a well-set Tyron.
The South African, who fumbled a catch in the deep in the early stages of Gardner’s half-century, stepped up in superb style against the superstar topping the WBBL’s run-scoring and wicket-taking charts.
Tyron heaved the next delivery over the leg-side fence, then clattered a four to reduce her side’s victory equation to two runs from three deliveries.
Tryon (43 from 23 balls) failed to finish the job, offering some catching practice to Erin Burns, but Milly Illingworth and Faltum dragged their side over the line for a vital two-wicket victory.
The Renegades, having been in danger of losing pace with the top four if they failed to get over the line in Sydney, are now 3-3.
“Hopefully that goes a long way in terms of the season and the confidence we can have,” Molineux told the Seven Network.
“It should give us a lot of confidence. The ability to bounce back from playing and losing against the same team (on Thursday).
“That (win) says a lot about this group. The vibes have been the exact same throughout (the season), we’re 3-3 and still have a big four games to go.”
Australia skipper Molineux was full of praise for Tyron and Georgia Wareham, whose haul of 3-19 included the prized scalp of Gardner.
Tryon, who clubbed three sixes and three fours in total, was relieved with the result.
“I was a bit unfortunate at the back end, I probably wasn’t looking at the scoreboard,” the player of the match told Seven.
The Sixers next face Adelaide Strikers at Karen Rolton Oval on Tuesday, while the Renegades aren’t in action until Friday’s clash with the Strikers at Adelaide Oval.
AAP