WBBL|07: Melbourne Renegades hand Sydney Sixers third-straight loss

The Sydney Sixers’ decision to push Ellyse Perry up the batting order couldn’t save them from conceding a third-straight defeat.

The Renegades’ spinners proved too difficult to handle. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

A return to the superstar opening pair of Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy failed to break a run of losses for the Sydney Sixers on Saturday, that now stands at three, and only one team sits below the two-time champions on the Women’s Big Bash table.

That team is defending champions Sydney Thunder. But for the star-studded Sixers led by Perry, Healy and allrounder Ashleigh Gardner, the 12-run loss to the Melbourne Renegades at Perth’s Lilac Hill was the Sixers’ third straight.

The task now becomes ever more difficult to return to the promised land of WBBL finals, after two seasons out of that limelight.

And it was Melbourne Renegades captain Sophie Molineux who set the tone in defence of 7/142.

The left-arm spinner continued her spell over Healy claiming the Australian wicketkeeper-batter for a sixth time in the WBBL, disturbing the stumps, in the opening over.

Molineux finished with terrific figures of 1-17 from her four overs.

“(Healy) has taken me to town a lot before, so it was nice to get her wicket,” Molineux said.

“Midge is obviously a player that can be devastating, I think the earlier we can put her in the sheds, the better for us … to win that first six was really important for us.”

Healy’s wicket was quickly followed by the sharp run out of Ashleigh Gardner for 4 by Indian recruit Jemimah Rodrigues and the Sixers were playing from behind and never really recovered.

Perry returned to the top of the order, where she scored 28 runs (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Melbourne’s third-straight win vaulted it to top of the table.

It stuck to the formula that proved so successful during the club’s win over the Sixers in Tasmania last weekend, employing an all-spin attack in the six-over powerplay.

Molineux, Indian star Harmanpreet Kaur and fellow off-spinner Ella Hayward (1-22) conceded just 30 in those six overs.

When Perry departed for 28 in the ninth over, all hope was not quite lost with Indian teenage sensation Shafali Verma coming to the crease, after being shuffled down the order. Yet she could only manage 20 from 15 balls. Young pace bowler Ellie Falconer took 2-28, including Verma.

The Sixers now look to Sunday’s fixture against a red-hot Perth Scorchers to try and break the losing streak and gain some ground on the top four.

Earlier, the Sixers bucked a trend for spin in the opening six-over powerplay with captain Perry employing pace for all six. It proved the right move claiming 2-21 early.

Left-armer Lauren Cheatle (1-17) conceded just five runs from two overs in that first six.

Kaur posted a new personal best in red with 43 from 32 and a late flurry from the experienced Jess Duffin (41 not out from 32) propelled Melbourne to a winning total.

RADHAV BLINDER

Although it wasn’t the result the Sixers were looking for, that did not take away from the fielding feats from star Indian recruit, Radha Yadav.

As she did earlier in the tournament, the left-arm spinner produced a blinding catch off her own bowling, to remove her Indian teammate Harmanpreet Kaur (43) as the Renegades began to accelerate.

Against the Hobart Hurricanes in Tasmania, Yadav went airborne with the left hand at gully, today she went with the right and with rapid reflexes snared the catch parallel and centimetres from the ground.

“How about that catch?! One of the best for the season,” former Australian captain Alex Blackwell said in commentary.

Originally published as WBBL|07: Melbourne Renegades hand Sydney Sixers third-straight loss