Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2022 Weber BBL
Melbourne Renegades take on Adelaide Strikers in match five of the WBBL; the eighth edition of the tournament.
The game is scheduled to start at 9.15am local time (12.15am BST) on Sunday, October 16.
The Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay is set to stage this match.
Adelaide Strikers got off to a losing start on Saturday, falling 17 runs short against Sydney Sixers, who outplayed Tahlia McGrath's side, whose stars - Deandra Dottin and Laura Wolvaardt - both made starts but couldn't go on to produce the kind of match-defining performances put up by Ellyse Perry, Suzie Bates and Sophie Ecclestone for Sydney, who have won both of their first two games.
Amanda-Jade Wellington was unusually expensive with the ball, taken down by Bates in her second over, while McGrath's three overs went for 27 runs. Darcie Brown did at least take the early wicket of Alyssa Healy.
They face a Melbourne Renegades side for whom this will be their first game of the new season; they are without long-term injury absentees Tayla Vlaeminck and Georgia Wareham, while Jess Duffin is missing because of a clash with the AFLW season. Harmanpreet Kaur hasn't arrived yet because of her Asia Cup commitments. Simon Helmet, the head coach, has a tough job on his hands.
Katie Mack made 34 in Strikers' defeat by Sydney Sixers (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Plenty will ride on the early inroads that Shabnim Ismail can make with the new ball for Renegades, so they will look to the South African fast bowler for the key wickets of Dottin, Wolvaardt, McGrath and Katie Mack, particularly without much other international experience in their ranks.
Sophie Molineux has a major role to play as captain with bat and ball, while Melbourne need Hayley Matthews to set the tone at the top of the innings. Her match-up against Brown will be worth watching.
The morning is set to be sunny with temperatures up to 25 degrees Celsius.
Harmanpreet Kaur won't have arrived from the Asia Cup in time, leaving a major hole in Renegades' batting line-up. She will be replaced temporarily by Eve Jones, the English batter who captains Central Sparks represented Renegades in WBBL07, scoring 236 runs at a strike rate of 99.57 and slotting into the XI at various positions in the top and middle order.
General manager James Rosengarten, said: "We're pleased to have Eve returning to the Renegades. She was a strong contributor for us on the field last year and offers flexibility with where she can slot into our batting order.
"Eve already has great relationships within our group and an understanding of the way we want to play as a team, which will help her hit the ground running."
Tayla Vlaeminck and Georgia Wareham are both long-term absentees, while Jess Duffin is also missing from Renegades' depleted squad.
Eve Jones has re-joined Melbourne Renegades as a replacement for Harmanpreet Kaur (Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Melbourne Renegades: Sophie Molineux, Sarah Coyte, Josie Dooley, Ellie Falconer, Ella Hayward, Shabnim Ismail, Harmanpreet Kaur, Carly Leeson, Hayley Matthews, Rhiann O'Donnell, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham, Courtney Webb, Georgia Prestwidge, Erica Kershaw, Eve Jones (partial replacement for Harmanpreet Kaur)
Adelaide Strikers: Jemma Barsby, Darcie Brown, Deandra Dottin, Tahlia McGrath, Tegan McPharlin, Annie O’Neil, Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Laura Wolvaardt, Ella Wilson, Anesu Mushangwe, Meagan Dixon, Katie Mack
Melbourne Renegades: Josie Dooley, Hayley Matthews, Carly Leeson, Eve Jones, Sophie Molineux, Courtney Webb, Rhiann O'Donnell, Shabnim Ismail, Sarah Coyte, Georgia Prestwidge, Ellie Falconer
Adelaide Strikers: Laura Wolvaardt, Deandra Dottin, Laura Wolvaardt, Tahlia McGrath, Bridget Patterson, Madeline Penna, Jemma Barsby, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tegan McPharlin, Darcie Brown, Megan Schutt
The favourites for this game are Adelaide Strikers at 4/5. The bookies have Melbourne Renegades at 11/10.
Strikers look far stronger than Renegades despite losing their season-opener. Adelaide win.
Yes. General admission tickets are priced at $5 and can be purchased on Ticketek.
Sky Sports holds the UK rights for the WBBL. This game will be shown on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 9am (BST).
In Australia, fans will be able to watch all 59 matches in the WBBL live and free on either the Seven Network or cricket.com.au
A total of 24 games will be televised on free-to-air on Seven and simulcast on Foxtel and Kayo, while the remaining 35 games will be shown on Foxtel and Kayo Sports and also live streamed for free on cricket.com.au.
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