Kerr, Gardner power Sydney Sixers to fifth straight win

The Sydney Sixers extended their unbeaten streak to five while handing the Melbourne Renegades their third loss of the season at the Junction Oval in Melbourne on Thursday (November 12). Melie Kerr’s fifty pushed the Sixers to 140 before a three-wicket haul from skipper Ashleigh Gardner helped them secure an 11-run win.

After deciding to bat first, the Sixers got off to a slow start. Sophia Dunkley and Gardner were unable to convert their starts while Ellyse Perry struggled to get going at the other end. The acceleration came through Kerr who struck seven boundaries in her 34-ball 53. She shared a 55-run stand with Perry who continued to struggle before eventually being dismissed for a 41-ball 30. At the end, the Sixers lost a lot of wickets, leaving them with 140/6.

In response, the Renegades too struggled at the outset and were reduced to 22 for 3 in the fifth over. With a 37-run partnership, Nicole Faltum and Sophie Molineux attempted to rebuild, but both fell quickly, leaving their team at 63 for 5 in the 12th over. During her 60-run partnership with Georgia Wareham, Tess Flintoff dominated the scoring and kept the Renegades' hopes alive. She was eventually run out for 44 off 31 in the 19th over, and the Renegades lost four wickets and were bowled out for 129 when they needed 18 runs to win off the final over.