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In a thrilling low-scoring encounter at the W.A.C.A. Ground, the Perth Scorchers Women narrowly edged out the Melbourne Renegades Women by just two runs in a last-ball thriller. Alana King‘s outstanding spin bowling played a crucial role in sealing the Scorchers’ win in the 17th match of the Women’s Big Bash League 2024 (WBBL).
Perth Scorchers’ batting struggles amid Alice Capsey’s heroics
Melbourne Renegades won the toss and chose to bowl, putting the Scorchers into bat first. The decision paid off quickly as the Renegades’ 20-year-old spinner Alice Capsey ran through the Scorchers’ lineup with an extraordinary spell. Capsey took a remarkable 5 wickets in her 3.5 overs, maintaining relentless pressure on the Scorchers and limiting their score to just 108 in 19.5 overs. Mikayla Hinkley’s innings of 32 off 37 balls, which included a solitary four and a six, was the highest contribution for the Scorchers, but she found little support from her teammates, as Capsey’s devastating spell dismantled the middle order.
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Alana King’s spin magic defies Melbourne Renegades’ chase
Chasing a low target of 109, the Renegades’ innings saw a strong start, led by the explosive Deandra Dottin, who scored 40 off 27 balls, showcasing her power with three boundaries and three sixes. However, the Renegades’ chase began to unravel as wickets fell at regular intervals, primarily due to Alana’s exceptional spin bowling. Alana delivered a masterclass in control and accuracy, taking three crucial wickets across her four overs and conceding only 23 runs at an economy rate of 5.80. Her spell effectively stifled the Renegades’ momentum, putting the Scorchers back in the game.
With the game coming down to the last over and the Renegades needing just a handful of runs, the pressure was on. The Scorchers held their nerve as the Renegades fell just two runs short, managing only 106 for 9 in their 20 overs. This victory propelled Perth Scorchers to second place on the points table with six points, while the Melbourne Renegades slipped to fifth place with four points.
Alana’s all-round impact and crucial breakthroughs at key moments ultimately proved decisive, and she was rightfully awarded Player of the Match for her standout performance.
