Hayley Matthews powers Melbourne Renegades to a thumping win over Sydney Thunder 

Hayley Matthews with Courtney Webb [Source: Twitter]

The ongoing Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) 2022 produced a one-sided affair where the Melbourne Renegades thumped the Sydney Thunder by eight wickets in Canberra. Despite the win, the Renegades remain in seventh position, two points ahead of the Thunder, who occupy the bottom spot.

Georgia Prestwidge dismantles Thunder' batting

Sydney lost Tammy Beaumont in the first over itself and their innings never recovered. Prestwidge, in alliance with skipper Hayley Matthews, dismantled their middle order, which consisted of Amy Jones, Rachel Haynes, and Tahlia Wilson. Wilson, however, added 20 valuable runs before falling to Matthews.

Sarah Coyte capitalised on the pressure applied by her teammates and snapped two quick wickets. Sammy-Jo Johnson added 16 off 15, only to become Prestwidge's final victim.

Belinda Vakarewa added 15 runs as the Renegades' innings folded on 95 in 20 overs.

​Hayley Matthews' fireworks leaves the Thunder shell shocked

Chasing 96, the Melbourne-based club lost Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu for naught, with Johnson claiming her first scalp. 

Matthews, who has been in red-hot form in the WBBL 08, found support in Josephine Dooley as the pair snitched a 42-run second-wicket stand.

​Lauren Smith got the better of Dooley for 21.

​It was all one-way traffic after that for the Renegades. Matthews, along with Courtney Webb, swiftly added 54 runs to the scoreboard.

Matthews remained unbeaten on 46 off 40, while Webb stood her ground scoring 21 off 23, helping their side to a rare win in the tournament.

Brief Scores

Sydney Thunder: 95 (20)
Tahlia Wilson 20 (27), Sammy-Jo Johnson 16 (15);
Georgia Prestwidge 3-22 (4), Sarah Coyte 2-12 (4)

Melbourne Renegades: 98-2 (14.2)
Hayley Matthews 46* (40), Courtney Webb 21* (23);
Lauren Smith 1-12 (3), Sammy-Jo Johnson 1-28 (2.2)

Melbourne Renegades won by eight wickets.

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