The Women’s Big Bash League 2026 is underway in Australia. This morning UK time Hobart Hurricanes played host to Melbourne Renegades in a match that was great and should have been greater.
THE FIRST 39.5 OVERS
Hobart Hurricanes tallied 154-7 from their 20 overs. Nicola Carey scored a superb 62, and Chinelle Henry provided some late impetus with an 18 ball 36. Sophie Molineux starred with the ball, claiming 4-22. At 99-1 in response the Renegades looked poised for a huge win, but then three wickets fell quickly, including Hayley Matthews, who had been bossing the innings until she was bowled by Heather Graham for 59. Georgia Wareham played fluently, but neither Sophie Molineux nor Nicole Faltum found peak form. Deandra Dottin, held back until number eight, kept her side in the contest. The final over began with eight needed for the win. With two balls to go that was down to five. Dottin hit the penultimate ball for four to level the scores…
IT WAS THE BEST OF FINISHES, IT WAS THE WORST OF FINISHES
Nicola Carey, who had followed her fine innings with two wickets, rose to the occasion, and the final delivery was a dot, Dottin not getting bat to it and wicket keeper Lizelle Lee taking it. However, with everyone preparing for a super over, the TV replay umpire was busy looking at replays, and he established to his own satisfaction, but probably not to that of anyone else (even the Melbourne Renegades players if they are honest) that Lee had taken the ball fractionally in front of the stumps, which technically meant that delivery had to be called no-ball, and rather than the super over that the game deserved the Renegades were winners by four wickets with one ball to spare. It was a fabulous match, but what a shame that it was settled by the TV replay umpire and not out on the field.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Just before my usual sign off a brief mention of events across the Atlantic, which have left the USA with the lamest of lame duck presidents (both houses of Congress now have comfortable Democratic majorities, and there have been some other momentous results). Now for the gallery…
