IN THE last day of regular matches before the semi-finals on Saturday, the two Sydney teams played their final match, while the Stars took the final spot in T20 Spring Challenge deciders.

Sydney Thunder 2-116 (16.2) defeated Sydney Sixers 9-114 (20.0)

The Thunder were in control of the contest throughout the entirety of the match, however it was their inability to close out the game within 12.2 overs that cost them a spot in the semi-finals taking an extra four overs to reach the target.

Samantha Bates was the most important player for the Thunder taking three wickets while conceding only 21 runs, while Sienna Eve (1/12 off three overs) and Taneale Peschel had identical economical figures.

The Thunder were well on-top during the Sixers’ batting phase with only Elsa Hunter hitting over 20 runs, although she faced 35 in doing so.

Chasing 114 for the win, the Thunder looked like they would do it with ease in the second innings due to the form shown by opening pair Tahlia Wilson (54 not out off 50 balls) and Georgia Voll (32 off 25).

Both the batters were able to keep the run rate above 100, with 10 boundaries hit between them to reach their partnership of 70 runs. After Voll fell in the 10th over, it was Anika Learoyd (six off 10) that came in and got out cheaply to the Sixers’ best bowler and breakout player Caoimhe Bray (2/22 off three overs).

Ella Briscoe was able to stay the course to hit 17 runs off 14 deliveries so that Wilson could steer the ship to win the match and reach her half-ton.

Melbourne Renegades 8-139 defeated by Melbourne Stars 9-143

To round out the regular tournament fixture, it was the Melbourne derby that took place between the Renegades and the Stars.

It was the efforts of their star young gun Sophie Day (3/24 off four overs) that got them close to the win after the Renegades cruised to 1-53 after the first wicket of Naomi Stalenberg.

Emma De Broughe (29 off 18) and Courtney Webb (39 off 31) were the pair that threatened to take the game away before Day intervened, with the duo hitting 10 boundaries between them.

After that the batters didn’t trouble the Stars bowlers with the strike rates of the middle order batters sitting below 100 except for Ella Hayward who hit 14 off 12.

Chasing just 139, it looked like the Stars would get the win after a good start from openers Rhys McKenna (32 off 13 balls) and Meg Lanning (12 off 10), before the latter was dismissed by de Broughe.

A few batters contributed smaller scores, which considering the smaller total were imperative to the chase.

Coming in at six, it was Olivia Henry that steered them to the win, hitting 24 off 30 deliveries. When she was dismissed, it was Mia Perrin (19 off 13) that kept the scoring going.

Being pushed all the way by the Renegades, the Stars had to ensure that their final two batters stuck the landing, Day and Maisy Gibson did, ensuring a last ball win.

For the Renegades, it was veteran bowler Sarah Coyte that got them back in the game with a three-wicket haul.