Melbourne Renegades are WBBL champions for the first time. They beat Brisbane Heat by seven runs (DLS method) in this afternoon’s final at the MCG. A huge turnaround from the past two seasons in which the team finished second last and last. The Renegades have now added the WBBL|10 title to their BBL|08 championship win in 2018/2019.
After they were sent in to bat, the Renegades recovered from losing three early wickets to make 9/141 from their 20 overs, with Hayley Matthews scoring 69 from 61, the highest individual score ever in a WBBL grand final. Charli Knott took 3/28 while Grace Parsons grabbed 2/29 for the Heat.
Brisbane’s run chase was interrupted by rain, with the team’s target reduced to 98 from 12 overs. Captain Jess Jonassen led with 44 not out from 28 balls, but her team otherwise struggled to make runs. Matthews was named player of the match for taking 2/24 and her innings of 69.
(Cricket Australia released a statement to the ABC that the extra time available until 7pm Melbourne time was to complete the minimum five overs for the Heat, not to complete the innings)
Todd Greenberg was today unveiled as the next CEO of Cricket Australia at a press conference at Adelaide Oval. He was most recently the boss of Australian Cricketers’ Association and the former NRL chief executive before that.
During the Adelaide tests, Many people head out back to the Village Green behind the Western Stand if they access - live music, food, drinks, etc - would imagine a fair number of people were there today.
Was also a fairly warm day so quite a few were also at bar’s etc.
This test, unlike the last, is shaping up as a pretty decent one. Last night’s attendance and audience, including some brief unbelievable scenes off the field, also suggest keen interest.
CA, Seven and Foxtel, for now, would surely have a spring in their step. I personally am still not a fan of the day-night/pink matches and feel the jury is still out amongst the public too.
I agree - seems to be fairly popular amongst the public - can go after work if on a weekday, don’t have to spend all day in the heat, only part of the day
I feel like the pink ball day/night tests help fill the void left behind with the demise in interest (and poor scheduling) of any T20/ODI internationals.
I know there’s the Big Bash for nighttime cricket too in the second half of December and January but it just doesn’t capture the interest as much as an Australia game does (for me anyway).
Possibly a controversial idea- I wouldn’t mind the Sydney Test becoming a pink ball test- it would tie in nicely with the Pink Test theme. I wouldn’t make it a full day-nighter but perhaps starting play at say 1pm and running play through to 8-8:30pm (so still daylight being mid summer but with the lights on towards the end to assist as it gets darker). Would be good for TV audiences and crowds especially since a lot of people come back to work that week post-Christmas.
