'Gades stay in the hunt with vital win

The Melbourne Renegades are still in the hunt for their first Rebel WBBL finals appearance after defeating Perth Scorchers by four wickets at Camberwell Sports Ground.

The Scorchers, who were the Renegades' main target due to occupying fourth spot heading into the contest, had their moments, but poor patches with the bat and ball proved costly. 

Set a relatively modest 125 for victory, the Renegades made hard work of the chase, achieving victory with just four deliveries left.

The Renegades looked in complete control while Sophie Molineux was belting the Scorchers to all parts of Camberwell Sports Ground.

After earlier impressing with the ball, Molineux teed off from the start, thumping three sixes in her career-best 62 off 45 balls but the young allrounder departed in the 11th over.

It sparked a 3-0 collapse and Perth suddenly had a sniff.

Another 3-8 collapse soon after created some more concerns as Emma King (2-14), Heather Graham (2-23) and Katherine Brunt (1-16) applied the screws.

But Scorchers skipper Elyse Villani's decision to bowl herself in the 20th over is one she might regret.

Villani hadn't bowled a single over all tournament until this match and her over wasn't a memorable one, dropping a return catch to reprieve Hayley Jensen before being lofted by Jess Duffin the next ball for the winning runs.

Her team did well to reach 7-124 with the bat though after the Scorchers' top order was skittled.

The visitors lost 5-16 to slump to 5-38 - Molly Strano with three catches and a wicket - before veteran Lauren Ebsary's marvellous unbeaten 61 spared the Scorchers' blushes.

Ebsary smashed three sixes in her 44-ball solo hand to be the team high-scorer.

Maitlan Brown (2-18) and player-of-the-match Molineux (2-31) were the best of the bowlers for the Renegades, who will need to win tomorrow's rematch at Camberwell and rely on Sydney Thunder downing Brisbane Heat at Allan Border Field on Sunday to make the top four.

Renegades XI: Molineux, Atapattu, Duffin, Satterthwaite (C), Inglis, Koski, Brown, Jensen, Strano, Tahuhu, Wareham. Vlaeminck named as 12th player.

Scorchers XI: Villani (C), Bolton, Banting, Graham, Brunt, Ebsary, Sciver, Newton, Cleary, King, Smith. Piparo named as 12th player.