At Bellerive Oval in Hobart on November 4, Melbourne Renegades claimed a dramatic three-wicket victory over Hobart Hurricanes in the ninth match of the Women’s Big Bash League 2026, finishing on 155/6 while chasing the Hurricanes’ total of 154/7.
The win was sealed not by a boundary or a clean hit but by a no-ball called off the final delivery, after wicketkeeper Lizelle Lee moved in front of the stumps before the ball made contact, breaching MCC Law 27.3, which requires the wicketkeeper to remain wholly behind the striker’s stumps until the ball passes or the batter attempts a run. That infringement awarded the Renegades the winning run with scores level at 154, completing a nervy chase and handing Melbourne their first victory of the WBBL 12 season.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, remained without a win from three matches and dropped to the bottom of the standings. Adding to their difficulties, Hobart were penalised for an over-rate violation, which meant they were restricted to two fielders outside the 30-yard circle for the final three balls of the Renegades’ chase.
“Cricket is cruel.”
We thought we had a Super Over, but it’s the @RenegadesBBL who claim victory over the @HurricanesBBL in extraordinary fashion! #WBBL12 pic.twitter.com/fIrkS0rIQw
— Weber Women’s Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 4, 2026
How did the Renegades build their chase?
Hayley Matthews gave the Renegades’ chase its foundation, scoring 59 off 44 balls before Heather Graham dismissed her. At that point, the Renegades were placed at 1/101 heading into the 13th over, but they then lost five wickets for 37 runs as the Hurricanes fought back. Courtney Webb contributed 29 off 25 balls to help steady the innings during that difficult middle phase.
The Renegades used their Power Surge and still needed 33 runs from the final four overs, keeping the match in the balance deep into the chase. Molly Strano removed Sophie Molineux with a caught-and-bowled, tightening the contest further, before the last-ball no-ball incident settled the outcome in Melbourne’s favour.
For the Hurricanes, Nicola Carey was the standout with the bat, scoring 62 off 43 balls in what was her 150th WBBL appearance, a significant personal milestone for the Hurricanes captain. Chinelle Henry also played a brisk hand, making 36 off 18 balls before hobbling off with a suspected hip injury after bowling one over in which she conceded 14 runs.
What were the bowling highlights for the Renegades?
Molineux was the pick of the Renegades’ bowlers, returning figures of 4/22 to restrict the Hurricanes’ scoring. That performance carried additional significance, with the Aussie skipper reached 101 career WBBL wickets during the match, becoming only the second Renegades player to cross the 100-wicket mark in the competition.
Strano, coincidentally playing for the Hurricanes, was the first to do so and currently holds 104 WBBL wickets. Deandra Dottin was at the crease for the Renegades when Carey bowled the final delivery, but it was the no-ball call against Lee that ended the match, with Dottin unable to connect with that last ball from Carey.
