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The WBBL|03 season that was: Renegades

Close results proved costly, but the Renegades showed promising signs as they climbed the ladder in WBBL|03

Melbourne Renegades

Position: 6th

Wins: 6 Losses: 8

Highest total: 6-189 v Thunder, December 9

Highest individual score: Jess Cameron, 81 v Thunder

Best individual bowling figures: Hayley Jensen, 3-11 v Thunder

WBBL|03 season highlights: Renegades

Highlights: After two seasons of dwelling near the bottom of the Rebel WBBL ladder, the Renegades showed they meant business in the season opener. They ultimately lost to Sydney Thunder by 11 runs, but they took the challenge right up to the team that would occupy first spot of most of the season, led by a brilliant 81 from recruit Jess Duffin.

The Renegades were involved in one of the most controversial finishes in WBBL when their game against Sydney Sixers went to a Super Over after the Renegades thought they had won. With the Sixers needing three to win off the final ball, the Renegades thought they had restricted them to a single, and started celebrating. But with the umpire deeming the ball not dead, the Sixers snuck a second run, forcing a Super Over. Luckily for the Renegades, they prevailed in the extra period.

The Renegades featured in a second Super Over in WBBL|03, in vastly different circumstances. In the second Melbourne Derby, they needed six off the final ball of the innings to tie the game, and captain Amy Satterthwaite duly delivered, belting a maximum. But with scores still tied after the Super Over, the Stars won on a countback.

The Renegades needed two wins on the final weekend of the regular season to be any hope of playing finals, but faced the tough task of taking on then-top team Sydney Thunder in both matches.  But the Renegades rose to the occasion, led by Rebel WBBL|03 Young Gun Award winner Sophie Molineux, who took 2-31 and then made 62 with the bat, to win the first match on the Saturday.

Amy Satterthwaite highlights: WBBL|03

Bowling ace: Kiwi seamer Lea Tahuhu led the way for the Renegades in WBBL|03, taking 16 wickets at an average of 17.37, but she had good support as the team in red spread the load. Fellow New Zealander Hayley Jensen and Maitlan Brown both claimed 15 wickets, while Molly Strano wasn’t far behind with 14.

Batting star: The WBBL|03 Player of the Tournament Amy Satterthwaite was the linchpin for the Renegades in many a batting innings, whether free to attack the ball or tasked with preserving her wicket to steady the ship, she always rose to the occasion.

On the rise: Recognised by Southern Stars players as the young player to watch in WBBL|03,  allrounder Sophie Molineux more than lived up to the hype, taking out the Rebel Young Gun Award. She made 318 runs at an average of 26.50, including two half-centuries. She also took six wickets with a neat economy rate of 6.39 and was named player of the match on three occasions.

Sophie Molineux: Rebel Young Gun

What they need for WBBL|04: To build on what they started. WBBL|03 was a big step forward for the Renegades, and some close losses cost them a chance at finals. But they have an exciting mix of talent, with some new faces improving the list’s depth, alongside the younger, emerging talent the club has nurtured from day dot. With another season under their belt, and another pre-season to come before we see the team again, they could be a force to be reckoned with next summer.

In a nutshell: The Renegades were close to securing their first finals appearance in a huge summer from former cellar-dwellers. After putting a heavy emphasis on developing young players in the first two seasons, the Renegades reaped the rewards for their efforts, with the likes of Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham and Maitlan Brown taking their games to another level. Recruits like Amy Satterthwaite and Jess Duffin also played big roles as the Renegades announced themselves as contenders.

WBBL|03 squad: Amy Satterthwaite (c), Chamari Atapattu (SL), Kris Britt, Maitlan Brown, Jess Duffin, Emma Inglis, Hayley Jensen, Claire Koski, Sophie Molieux, Rhiann O’Donnoll, Molly Strano, Jennifer Taffs, Lea Tahuhu (NZ), Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham, Gabby Lewis (rookie), Erika Quinn (rookie).