WBBL Review: Laura Wolvaardt puts on exhibition only to be outgunned by Meg Lanning show

Two deeply contrasting games: one that was over in the blink of an eye, another that went to the final over and showed the best of both sides

A full day’s play… and another Renegades defeat

It’s about time, you might say. An entire afternoon of Women’s Big Bash action without the spoiler of the Sydney rain.

And what did we get? Two deeply contrasting games: one that was over in the blink of an eye, another that went to the final over and showed the best of both sides.

Melbourne Renegades remain winless – the only team yet to come out on top, but more worryingly for Amy Satterthwaite’s outfit is the lack of form among their batsmen. And while the runs of Georgia Wareham – known more for her leg-breaks than firefighting jobs in the middle order – are not to be sniffed at, she needs some support from her more established colleagues.

Satterthwaite has managed just 28 in three innings; Courtney Webb is the second-highest contributor with just 58; Sophie Molineux has added just 52 at a strike rate well below a run a ball; likewise, Lizelle Lee, whose 33 runs at an average of 11 have used up 49 deliveries.

The talent is there, the runs have not been. And thus, they have rarely been in the game. This time around, they were out of it once Wareham fell – 62 for 5 in the 15th over. But by then, she had already watched as Satterthwaite, Lee, Molineux and Webb fell. Only three players managed double figures, just two hit boundaries.

^{Belinda Vakarewa took two wickets in Hobart Hurricanes' victory}

Hurricanes convincing in first victory

While Renegades may be struggling, Hobart Hurricanes were also without a victory until the pair faced each other. Only a matter of days earlier, they had been restricted to 89 for 9 by Melbourne Stars.

However, they were much improved in their dismantling of Satterthwaite’s side. Only Molly Strano and Jess Jonassen took more WBBL wickets last year than Belinda Vakarewa, and the 22-year-old seamer was somewhere near her best, taking 2 for 12 from her three overs, including the scalp of Molineux to the first ball she faced.

Nicola Carey picked up three wickets of her own, while West Indies opener Hayley Matthews was effective with her off-spin, taking 2 for 9.

In response, it was all too easy: Rachel Priest and Naomi Stalenburg made 34 and 35, respectively, and the game was won. An important, net-run-rate-improving win for Corinne Hall’s team.

Laura Wolvaardt – the most languid cover drive going?

It was a quirk of the coronavirus pandemic that between February 18 and October 26, Laura Wolvaardt found herself 151 without loss across four innings.

And even if she followed that run with three low scores for Adelaide Strikers, she looked a million dollars in doing so.

Few look better at the crease – a languidness to her cover drive and an ease in her bat-swing that only the best can muster.

It almost felt wrong that her 68 should come in a losing cause, therefore; one particular stroke – a chip over extra cover for six – was the best of the lot.

^{Meg Lanning led her team to a fine win}

But she was somehow outgunned, just as she was when she last faced Meg Lanning – for South Africa against Australia in March’s T20 World Cup semi-final.

On that occasion, Wolvaardt made an unbeaten 41, but Lanning 49. This time, Lanning made 69 before falling in the final over.

Her innings was characterised by everything that makes her the world’s best – perhaps the finest batsman in the history of the women’s game. She controlled an awkward, difficult run-chase; Stafanie Taylor and Amanda-Jade Wellington were both deposited from the attack at upwards of 10 runs per over, while Megan Schutt went wicketless.

And even when Lanning was caught with just two runs needed, Nat Sciver hit the fourth ball of the final over for six to finish the contest.