Wolvaardt, bowlers pick up first win for Strikers

The Adelaide Strikers got their WBBL campaign off the ground with a seven-wicket win over the Melbourne Renegades at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide.

Asked to bat first, the Renegades lost Davina Perrin early. Courtney Webb salvaged the PowerPlay, hitting Megan Schutt for nine runs in the fourth over. Alice Capsey, after striking three boundaries, fell to Tahlia McGrath in the sixth over. Deandra Dottin was run out soon after.

Georgia Wareham joined Webb and the pair added a crucial 47-run stand before Webb was dismissed four runs short of fifty in the 13th over. The Renegades lost regular wickets, with Wareham's dismissal in the 16th over leaving them at 113/6. They finished at 141/9 in 20 overs.

In reply, the Strikers' openers put on a 63-run partnership. Wareham dismissed Tammy Beaumont in the eighth over, but Laura Wolvaardt cruised along unfazed. The South African brought up her fifty in the 14th over and remained unbeaten on 71 as Bridget Patterson struck the winning boundary in the 18th over.

Brief scores: Melbourne Renegades 141/9 in 20 overs (Courtney Webb 46, Georgia Wareham 30; Sophie Ecclestone 2-24, Darcie Brown 2-24) lost to Adelaide Strikers 143/3 in 17.4 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 71*, Tammy Beaumont 34; Tess Flintoff 2-27) by 7 wickets.