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WBBL|03: What you need to catch up on

With the first WBBL match of 2018 about to get under way, catch up on how the 2017 component of season went

With the 2017 component of the Rebel WBBL|03 fixture done and dusted, the favourites of the tournament are starting to emerge, not without some standout solo performances.

The Sydney Thunder sit atop the ladder after two rounds after having only lost one game in the season so far.

The Melbourne Renegades and the Brisbane Heat played out two contrasting matches in Victoria just before Christmas.

And it was the Renegades who ended up on top after the two matches with Sophie Molineux amongst the standouts. Her scores of 40 off 32 balls and 45 off 35 earned her the title of Rebel Young Gun for round 2.

Molineux's masterful knock leads 'Gades home

While a win just got away from the Heat in their first encounter, a massive collapse in the second game lead the Renegades to make light work of the Heat’s total of 66.   

Brilliant bowling from captain Amy Satterthwaite kept the Heat to their low total and it was up to Molineux and Chamari Atapattu to steer the Renegades to victory in just 11 overs.

Heat skittled for 66 by rampant Renegades

The Sydney Sixers played out their second game against the Hobart Hurricanes and Ellyse Perry’s Sixers proved too strong.

Despite losing Alyssa Healy early, Erin Burns, who was promoted to third in the batting order, and Perry made a 93-run stand to guide the Sixers to a big win.

Perry powers Sixers to big win

It was, however, Marizanne Kapp who ended the game with player-of-the-match honours for her bowling figures of 1-11.

The Perth Scorchers met the Melbourne Stars twice over at the WACA and they finished with a win a piece. The Stars win in the second meeting had them find their first elusive win of the season.

A 96-run partnership from South African pair Lizelle Lee and Mignon du Preez helped the Stars to their highest total for the season.

Lee launches to half-century

Not to be outdone, Elyse Villani and Nicole Bolton held on for a 140-run partnership with Bolton’s 67 off 52 balls earning her player-of-the-match honours.

Villani and Bolton put on incredible stand

It was in their second meeting a day later that saw the Stars get their first win of the season. While no one for the Stars really got beyond a start in their innings, tight bowling and good fielding kept the Scorchers short of their total of 6-149.

Villani earned the player-of-the-match title after backing up her 84 not out in the first game with a huge 72 off just 44 balls.

Villani just as strong in replay

The Brisbane Heat bounced back from two defeats against the Renegades and toppled the Strikers in both games.

The Heat’s two emphatic victories were largely thanks to recently crowned ICC’s Women’s T20 Player of the Year Beth Mooney.

Beth Mooney Innings

Mooney smashed 86 off 57 and 81 off 48 to help the Heat overcome a strong Adelaide Strikers side.

It wasn’t just Mooney with the highlights - Jemma Barsby wowed cricket fans by showing off her ambidextrous bowling style.

Barsby decided to switch the arm she was bowling with mid-over in the Strikers' innings.   

Barsby switches it up with the ball

The Hobart Hurricanes' winless season continued with two tough losses to top team Thunder.

Haynes bolts to another half-century for Thunder

Stafanie Taylor’s 4-15 off her four overs held the Hurricanes to just 112, and Rachael Haynes’ dominant 64 runs off 49 balls got the Thunder the win.

Taylor claims four in top performance

The Hurricanes' batting woes continued in their second meeting with Nicola Hancock, Meg Phillips and Celeste Raack all falling for ducks.

Thunder bowler Samantha Bates managed figures of 3-12, which included two wickets in two balls.

Blistering Bates bowls through 'Canes

It was then Thunder captain Alex Blackwell who steered her team home with an unbeaten 43 off 34 balls.

In the final match of 2017, the Scorchers upset the Sixers and Villani’s white-hot run of form continued.

It was the perfect start for the home team, who dismissed the dangerous Alyssa Healy with the first ball of the day.

Scorchers make an early statement

Perry stood out with her 45 off 47 but the Sixers total of 138 was not enough for victory.

Villani got her third half-century in a row, finishing with 63 off 43, but it was her opening partner Bolton who took out the player of the match accolade with 42 off 49 and bowling figures of 2-15.

Vibrant Villani puts bowlers to the sword again

The WBBL continues today with the Melbourne Renegades taking on the Sydney Sixers at Camberwell.

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