WBBL: Harmanpreet Kaur guides Melbourne Renegades to derby victory over Melbourne Stars

Guided by Harmanpreet Kaur and Sophie Molineux, the Melbourne Renegades have polished off their most bitter of rivals.

Kaur and Molineux were two of the Renegades’ best. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Indian superstar Harmanpreet Kaur orchestrated a team hat-trick as the Melbourne Renegades earned derby bragging rights against the sorry Stars.

The Renegades made light work of the Melbourne Stars’ modest target as they easily chased down 104 to win by seven wickets, largely thanks to an 81-run partnership between Jemimah Rodrigues and Carly Leeson.

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But the win was set up in the field and capped off there when Kaur’s final three deliveries produced wickets – a stumping, a catch and a run out – as the Stars were bowled out for 103.

“Our bowling innings was pretty good,” said Renegades captain Sophie Molineux.

“We had some clear plans to hit the stumps and the girls were really good – they really followed the plan.”

Rodrigues set the tone in the second over of the match with a sharp catch off Kaur’s bowling to send Elyse Villani on her way for one run.

Annabel Sutherland (9) departed soon after, which left Meg Lanning attempting to wrestle back some control. But the Stars skipper was knocked over for 17 with a beautiful delivery from Ella Hayward and it left her team in strife at 3-31.

Things soon turned dire when Maia Bouchier was caught for five and it was only thanks to a vital partnership between Kim Garth (32) and Erin Osborne (29) that the Stars managed to reach three figures.

It was an all-round effort from the Renegades bowlers, but Sophie Molineux was the pick of them with her economical figures of 2-10 that earned her the player of the match award, while Kaur picked up 3-22.

In reply, Tess Flintoff knocked over Eve Jones for a duck and Carly Leeson was dropped on 19 and went on to make 41.

It was all too easy as Rodrigues (45) and Leeson chipped away at the target before, fittingly, Kaur (12 not out) hit the winning runs with more than five overs to spare.

Kaur continues to dazzle. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Spin to win

It was another match-turning performance from the Renegades spinners that set the ladder leaders up for victory. The Stars just couldn’t deal with Sophie Molineux (2-10) and Harmanpreet Kaur (3-22) as they were all spun out for 103.

Added motivation

The Melbourne Renegades might be sitting pretty at the top of the ladder, but there’s added motivation for them to stay there. The team that finishes the regular season at the top automatically qualifies to host a home final and goes straight into it.

Originally published as WBBL: Harmanpreet Kaur guides Melbourne Renegades to derby victory over Melbourne Stars