WBBL|07: Kaur stars as Melbourne Renegades chase down Adelaide Strikers

Guided by Indian superstar Harmanpreet Kaur, the Melbourne Renegades have pulled off an incredible chase in Perth.

Kaur put on a batting masterclass. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The powerhouse hitting of Indian superstar Harmanpreet Kaur has carried the Melbourne Renegades to a miracle win over the Adelaide Strikers on Sunday, putting her name forward as WBBL’s preeminent finisher.

The Renegades needed 10 runs per over at the halfway mark of the chase in pursuit of 161 at Perth’s Lilac Hill, the highest for any team this season.

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Enter Kaur to make it four wins on the trot for the Renegades, taking them to the top of the WBBL table.

Settled at the crease, Kaur started to put the ball to all parts of the picturesque venue, passing fifty for the fourth time in the WBBL and first time in red.

Five sixes in an explosive 73 not out from 46 balls and the win was sealed. Captain Sophie Molineux (8 not out) hit the winning runs with two balls to spare.

“I was not putting too much pressure on myself. I know if I stay until the end, we can chase this total, and I have done this quite (a few times) in my life,” Kaur said post-match.

“We were just very positive.

“In games like that you need to pick the ball and who you want to attack … and the second thing was the wind (finding how I can hit with it).”

That was a magnificent display from Harmanpreet Kaur in Melbourne Renegades' run chase#WBBL07

— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) October 31, 2021

That six over cover by Kaur was outrageous.

— Tom O'Neil (@thomasjameoneil) October 31, 2021

On numerous occasions this season, Kaur had come to the crease to steadily steer her new club to victory but not on the scale of what she produced at Lilac.

It was the first time since WBBL|04 the Renegades had posted four wins in a row.

Kaur also pitched in with ball, claiming 2-31, including one of two key wickets in South African Laura Wolvaardt (47 from 35).

Kaur now has 219 runs for WBBL|07 at an incredible average of 73 and is building a case for buy of the season. She is also third on the tournament run-scorer’s list at the halfway mark.

Despite her heroics in getting the Renegades over the line, the Indian star was not the only stand out with the bat.

Kaur was named player of the match. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

BREAKOUT KNOCK FOR VAN NIEKERK

Dane van Niekerk pounded 62 from 47 balls, including two sixes, in a breakout WBBL knock for the South African captain.

In seven WBBL seasons, van Niekerk has become more renowned for her leg-spin and has managed just two scores past 50. But with more than 1,000 WBBL runs, and 4,000 plus at the international level across all formats, she can bat.

The 28-year-old replicated the type of form that made her so dangerous recently during the inaugural UK Hundred.

As captain of the Oval Invincibles, van Niekerk’s 259 runs at an average of 43 was pivotal to her side claiming the title.

Dane van Niekerk’s superb individual effort wasn’t enough to secure the win. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)