Melbourne Renegades lose top spot after defeat by Brisbane Heat

Georgia Redmayne struck 71, recording her fourth fifty of the tournament and becoming the second-highest run-scorer in this year's tournament

Mackay: Brisbane Heat 156-5, Melbourne Renegades 113-9 - Brisbane Heat win by 43 runs

Scorecard

Brisbane Heat helped to knock Melbourne Renegades off top spot in the Women’s Big Bash by beating Sophie Molineux’s side comfortably in the two teams’ final group match.

Renegades entered proceedings still with a strong chance of qualifying automatically for the final by winning the round-robin phase.

However, they were well beaten by Heat, and Perth Scorchers won by four wickets against Melbourne Stars to all but secure their place at the top of the tree, leaving Renegades to navigate the knockout route to the final.

Heat were indebted to Georgia Redmayne, who struck 71 in recording her fourth fifty of the tournament, and Georgia Voll, who made 40, in an 82-run partnership for the second wicket after the early loss of Grace Harris.

Molineux was the pick of the bowlers for Renegades, for whom Rhiann O’Donnell claimed two wickets.

^{Harmanpreet Kaur did not bat after suffering from illness}

In reply, Renegades never got going, though they were hindered by the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur who didn’t bat due to illness.

Without their India batter in the middle order, Josie Dooley top-scored with 35 as they struggled to form significant partnerships. Compatriot Jemimah Rodrigues fell cheaply, while English opener Eve Jones hit 17. None of Courtney Webb, Jess Duffin or Molineux made double figures.

Webb was one of three Renegades batters to fall to Jess Jonassen, the competition’s leading wicket-taker.

The result means that Heat will face Adelaide Strikers in the eliminator on November 24. Renegades will face the winner of that clash 24 hours later in the challenger ahead of Saturday’s final.