Cricket

Melbourne Renegades emerged victorious in a thrilling nine-run WBBL clash against local rivals Melbourne Stars, thanks to a career-best knock from Nicole Faltum and Sarah Coyte's clutch bowling in the dying moments.Faltum's unbeaten 66 off 42 deliveries propelled the Renegades to a competitive 170 for 6 at the MCG. The wicketkeeper-batter's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, as she smashed six boundaries and two maximums.The Stars' chase got off to a shaky start as Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin stifled their scoring rate. However, Rhys McKenna and Tess Flintoff threatened to turn the tide with some quickfire batting.But Coyte's ice-cool bowling proved to be the difference-maker. She dismissed both McKenna and Flintoff in the penultimate over, leaving the Stars needing 18 runs off the final six balls. Matthews' valiant effort wasn't enough to secure victory, as the Renegades held on for a crucial win.Faltum's partnership with Georgia Wareham (34) was instrumental in setting up the Renegades' victory. The duo added 67 runs for the sixth wicket, a new WBBL record for runs added after the fall of the fifth wicket.The result sees the Renegades climb to second spot on the ladder with a 5-3 record, while the Stars' playoff hopes hang in the balance at 2-4.Faltum's performance was a testament to the Renegades' unwavering belief in their abilities. "There is just this belief amongst the group that we can win from anywhere," she said. "We didn't win our first two games but we still believed that we were right on task."

Local Melbourne Renegades player Charis Bekker has made a remarkable transition from the pub to the center stage of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), playing a pivotal role in her team's 15-run victory over arch-rivals Melbourne Stars.Bekker, a 20-year-old spinner, was called into the Renegades squad as a replacement for injured spinner Sophie Molineux. Despite her limited experience, she showed no signs of nerves in the high-pressure Melbourne derby.In her four overs, Bekker conceded only nine runs and picked up the crucial wicket of superstar batter Meg Lanning. Her miserly bowling figures earned her the player of the match award."It's been a bit of a whirlwind," Bekker said after the match. "I was at the pub a couple of days ago with my mates, and then got the call [to join the squad]. I played against the Scorchers which was really cool. And then hopped on a flight. It's been really rushed."Bekker's maiden WBBL wicket was none other than Lanning, one of the most decorated batters in the world. "Everyone was cheering me on, I was just trying to bowl my best ball, and it happened to be Meg Lanning, which was kind of awesome," Bekker said.Deepti Sharma top-scored for the Stars with 23, while Georgia Wareham claimed the key wicket of captain Annabel Sutherland for 16. The result improved the Renegades' record to 3-3, while the Stars are now 2-3.Earlier, the Renegades were struggling at 87 for 5 before Naomi Stalenberg (26 not out off 17 balls) and Nicole Faltum (29 off 23) added some handy runs to lift the total to 146 for 6.The Renegades were 54 for 2 after 10 overs when they took the power surge. Although Deandra Dottin fell for 7 shortly after, the Renegades cracked 29 runs off the two overs. Alice Capsey and Wareham fell in quick succession before Stalenberg and Faltum steadied the ship with a 55-run stand.The Stars' run chase started slowly with the scoreboard reading 16 for 1 after five overs. Bhatia was lucky to still be there after being dropped by wicketkeeper Faltum in the first over when she was yet to score. The opener scored 22 off 26 balls, but the rest of her team-mates struggled for fluency as the required run rate ballooned out.

Brisbane Heat's Grace Parsons emerged as a star in her second WBBL match, leading her team to a historic 28-run victory over Melbourne Renegades. The 21-year-old legspinner claimed 3 for 22 in four overs, turning the tide after Renegades had started strongly in pursuit of Heat's 169 for 8.Parsons' heroics marked the first time in WBBL history that Heat had begun a season with consecutive wins. Renegades had made a blistering start thanks to Hayley Matthews' 35 off 28, but Parsons' double-wicket maiden in her opening over halted their momentum.The turning point came when Deandra Dottin was controversially given out lbw after the ball deflected off her glove onto her pad. Despite Dottin's call for a review, the absence of DRS in this match proved costly for Renegades.Courtney Webb's run-out and Sophie Molineux's dismissal in the 10th over further compounded Renegades' woes, leaving them reeling at 71 for 5. Shikha Pandey's excellent bowling continued to restrict Renegades, despite Naomi Stalenberg's quickfire 38.Parsons' performance was particularly impressive given her shoulder injury last year, which sidelined her for the entire WBBL season despite being Queensland's leading wicket-taker in the WNCL. Her talent has earned her a spot in Australia A against India, signaling a promising future.Parsons credits her development to former Heat legspinner Amelia Kerr and spin bowling coach Cameron Boyce. "Learning off Amelia the last three years has been really special," she said. "Our spin bowling coach at the Heat is amazing, and it's been cool to pick his brain."Earlier, Georgia Redmayne and Lauren Winfield-Hill had set the innings up with a 66-run partnership. Redmayne's stylish square drives and Winfield-Hill's strike rotation kept the scoreboard ticking. Charli Knott and Dottin's dismissals threatened to derail Heat, but Laura Harris' quickfire 31 during the power surge boosted the total.Jess Jonassen's unbeaten 25 helped Heat reach a competitive 169 for 8, which proved too much for Renegades despite Parsons' heroics.

Tayla Vlaeminck, the unlucky Australian and Melbourne Renegades fast bowler, has been ruled out of the WBBL for the third consecutive season due to a shoulder dislocation suffered during the T20 World Cup.Vlaeminck, 25, dislocated her bowling shoulder just moments into Australia's World Cup match against Pakistan, her first at a major tournament since 2018. She was subsequently ruled out of the World Cup, and the Renegades confirmed on Friday that she would play no part in the WBBL, which starts next Sunday.Vlaeminck's WBBL absence extends back to November 2021, when she played for the Hobart Hurricanes. She signed with the Renegades ahead of the 2022-23 season but has not played a single game due to a string of injuries.Vlaeminck has dislocated her left shoulder twice. The first occurred while playing for Victoria in the 2017-18 season. During the Australia A tour of England, which coincided with last year's Women's Ashes, she dislocated the same shoulder again while bowling, leading to corrective surgery.Before her Australian debut in 2018, Vlaeminck had undergone two ACL reconstructions. Stress fractures in her foot also forced her to miss the 2020 home T20 World Cup, the 2022 ODI World Cup, the Commonwealth Games later that year, and the 2023 T20 World Cup. Her foot injuries led her to train with professional dancers at the Australian Ballet as part of her rehabilitation.Vlaeminck's latest injury is a significant blow to the Renegades, who were hoping to challenge for the WBBL title this season. The team will now have to rely on other bowlers to fill the void left by Vlaeminck's absence.

The Top End T20 series in Darwin is set to feature a host of rising stars and experienced campaigners, with Josh Brown, Will Sutherland, and Scott Boland among the notable inclusions.Sutherland, who made his ODI debut for Australia last season, will lead the Melbourne Renegades Academy squad. The all-rounder has been recovering from a stress fracture of the back and will be eager to make an impact in Darwin.Brown, who joined the Renegades from the Brisbane Heat, will be making his first appearance for his new club. The explosive batsman is known for his big-hitting abilities, having scored a stunning 140 off 57 balls against the Adelaide Strikers last season.The Renegades Academy squad also includes Kane Richardson and Marcus Harris. Richardson is a regular member of the Australian T20I team, while Harris is a talented opener who has played for the Perth Scorchers in the past.Melbourne Stars Academy will have the experience of Scott Boland, who will serve as both a player and bowling coach. Boland, who has represented Australia in Test cricket, will be making his first competitive appearance since April after recovering from a heel injury.Hilton Cartwright, who is part of the Stars' BBL squad, will also feature in the Top End T20.The tournament will also feature teams from Northern Territory Strike, Adelaide Strikers, Perth Scorchers, Tasmania, ACT Comets, Pakistan A, and Bangladesh High Performance.Jake Weatherald and D'Arcy Short, who both play for the Adelaide Strikers, will represent NT Strike.The Top End T20 series is an important opportunity for young players to showcase their skills and for experienced players to get some match practice ahead of the BBL season.

Melbourne Renegades have bolstered their batting lineup with the acquisition of New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert on a two-year deal. The 29-year-old will be available for the entirety of the next two BBL seasons as the Renegades aim to improve upon their seventh-place finish last season.Seifert's signing means he will miss a portion of the Super Smash, New Zealand's domestic T20 tournament, and will not be available for the white-ball series against Pakistan over the Christmas and New Year period.With an impressive international record of three ODIs and 61 T20Is for New Zealand, Seifert brings a wealth of experience to the Renegades. He has also featured in T20 leagues worldwide, averaging 27.43 with a strike rate of 130.12 in the format, including three centuries.In the recent Lanka Premier League, Seifert emerged as the leading run-scorer with 400 runs at an average of 57.14 and a strike rate of 135.13.Seifert is expected to form a formidable top three for the Renegades alongside Josh Brown and Jake Fraser-McGurk. He is also a frontrunner to take over the wicketkeeping duties, a role shared by overseas signings Quinton de Kock and Jordan Cox last season."I'm thrilled to be here for the next two seasons," said Seifert. "I'll be able to enjoy the environment and get to know the club on a deeper level, which doesn't often happen in franchise cricket. I'm excited to call myself a Gade for the next couple of seasons at least."Renegades general manager James Rosengarten expressed his delight at Seifert's signing. "Tim gives us a double threat; we get a powerful and skilled batter plus an established international keeper and regular member of the Blackcaps program," said Rosengarten. "We're excited to welcome him into the club."The BBL draft will take place on September 1, with the Renegades holding pick numbers 2, 10, 23, and 26.

West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has returned to the Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) season, signing a one-year deal as a pre-draft signing. Matthews' return comes after a disappointing debut season with the Renegades, where she struggled to replicate her impressive performances for the West Indies.Despite finishing as the Renegades' joint-leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps, Matthews managed only 255 runs at an average of 19.61 and a strike rate of 114.34. The Renegades endured a forgettable campaign, finishing bottom of the table with just two wins.However, the Renegades are hopeful that Matthews' return, along with the availability of Sophie Molineux after injury and the potential addition of Tayla Vlaeminck, will boost their prospects for the 2024-25 season."We haven't achieved what we've wanted to the last couple of years but with some key members back and some new additions cooking up as well, I'm confident we can go out there and put it all together," Matthews said.Matthews is the fourth overseas player to be signed ahead of the WBBL draft, joining Amelia Kerr (Sydney Sixers), Nadine de Klerk (Brisbane Heat), and Marizanne Kapp (Melbourne Stars).Meanwhile, in domestic moves, the two Sydney clubs have bolstered their pace attacks. Courtney Sippel has signed a three-year deal with the Sixers after moving from the Heat, while Taneale Peschel has joined the Thunder from the Perth Scorchers.Peschel, who was talked out of retirement by Thunder coach Lisa Keightley, is excited about the opportunity to play under her former Western Australia and Scorchers coach."At the Scorchers, I've been given…every opportunity, but I felt like I'd been stagnant for the last season or two," Peschel said. "I always play the safe card and I've always stayed in WA and thought, okay, I'm still getting opportunity, I'll stay here. I think just this year, something clicked.""I thought, I've got to try something else. I've got to stop playing a safe card. Who knows what something like a change to another team can offer my career."

Cameron White, the former Australian white-ball captain, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season. White has signed a three-year deal to replace David Saker, who departed in May after a disappointing seventh-place finish in his third season at the helm.White, 40, is taking on his first head-coaching role but has gained valuable experience as an assistant coach with the Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers. He inherits a Renegades roster that boasts several talented players, including Jake Fraser-McGurk, Adam Zampa, Nathan Lyon, and Josh Brown."I've got so many great memories here as a player and achieving success, so to be back in Renegades colours several years later is a thrill," White said. "The idea of working with this playing group - some really exciting players there, both young and experienced - is really exciting. I'm really looking forward to ripping in and starting my journey as coach."As a player, White represented Australia 142 times across all three formats. He was a key member of the white-ball sides, captaining the T20I team six times and the ODI team once. White was also part of the Australian team that won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2009.Domestically, White played a pivotal role in the Renegades' only BBL championship triumph in 2019. He is also Victoria's longest-serving Sheffield Shield captain, amassing over 7000 first-class runs during his illustrious career.The Renegades have been allocated pick two in the BBL overseas draft order, which was announced on Thursday. White's appointment is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the team as they aim to improve their performance and challenge for the title in the upcoming season.

The Hobart Hurricanes have secured the first pick in the upcoming Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) draft, following a weighted lottery that favored teams that missed the finals in the 2023-24 season. The Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers, Melbourne Renegades, and Melbourne Stars, who all failed to reach the playoffs, were given the first four picks, followed by the four teams that made the postseason.Despite finishing in the bottom two last season, the Melbourne teams were unable to secure the top pick, which went to the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes had a strong draft last year, selecting Shabnim Ismail, Bryony Smith, and Lizelle Lee as a direct nomination.The Perth Scorchers, who were eliminated in the Challenger, will have the last pick in rounds one, two, and four of the draft. However, the order will be reversed in round three. Clubs can trade picks, so the order may change before the draft takes place in September.Last season, the Sydney Thunder used their first pick to select South Africa allrounder Marizanne Kapp as a platinum player, while the Scorchers opted not to use their retention option. This year, clubs can sign up to four overseas players, including those who join under the new multi-year pre-draft option. New Zealand's Amelia Kerr became the first player to sign under this system, joining the Sixers after leaving the Brisbane Heat.The pre-draft option essentially replaces the direct nominations system used last year. If clubs sign a fourth overseas player, they will become the first overseas replacement. The draft will again feature four price bands: platinum (AU$110,000), gold (AU$90,000), silver (AU$65,000), and bronze (AU$40,000).Next season's WBBL has been reduced to a 40-game regular season to manage the workload of players and boost attendance. The tournament is expected to start shortly after the conclusion of the Women's T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, which ends on October 20.Given the proximity of the World Cup to the WBBL season, it remains to be seen how many of the world's leading players will commit to the tournament in Australia.