Big-hitting guns primed for MCG derby

The Melbourne Stars say they can “hold” Renegades skipper Hayley Matthews with the bat as the West Indian looms as the key player in a blockbuster Melbourne Derby at the MCG.

With only one game separating first from seventh on the WBBL ladder, the Friday night clash will be vital for both side’s delicate finals hopes, and it’s the Renegades who enter with momentum after Matthews (85 off 54) engineered the highest successful chase in tournament history against the reigning champions Adelaide on Monday.

Handed the Renegades captaincy with Sophie Molineux sidelined by knee soreness, Matthews was also at the helm for a 15-run victory over the Stars at the Junction Oval last weekend.

Stars skipper Annabel Sutherland was wary of the strong form of Matthews and compatriot Deandra Dottin, but said her side would take confidence from clamping down on both in the first clash.

“The West Indian girls had a good night (against the Strikers). We know the threat they can pose, but we bowled really well to them at the Junction,” Sutherland said.

“We’re pretty confident in our plans, and we’ve got some world-class bowlers in our line-up, so we think we can hold them.”

Sutherland’s captaincy in the first half of the Stars’ campaign earnt the key tick of approval from predecessor Meg Lanning, who had been eager to pass on the baton from the all-rounder.

“She’s very well planned – it hasn’t seemed to impact her ability with the ball and the bat, and she’s learning all the time,” Lanning said.

“(Captaincy) is not something where you can just sit down and tell someone how it works – you’ve got to go into different situations and learn, and try to back yourself in and back your gut instinct – T20 cricket is all about that.

“I think she’s done well so far … every game she’ll come out of it with something that works, something you can do differently, and that’s what I was doing all the way through.”

The Stars slipped from second to seventh after losses to the Renegades and Sixers at home, but had two games in hand and what Lanning believed was a chance to pick up momentum heading towards the end of the shortened 10-game regular season.

“I think we play nearly every second day once we get going on Friday night, so if we can get some momentum going, we can certainly get some wins on the board and lift ourselves up the ladder,” she said.

Renegades all-rounder Georgia Wareham said it would be “unreal” to return to the MCG as part of the WBBL “Stadium Series”, after the corresponding clash last season was heavily impacted by rain.

“Any time you get the opportunity (to play on the MCG), it just adds that extra layer,” Wareham said.

“For a lot of the girls to experience that for the first time is really cool. Hopefully we get to play here a little bit more often and attract those bigger crowds that we’re all after.”