Darlington’s career-best leads Thunder to victory over Renegades

Callan Morse Published November 2, 2023 at 3.00pm (AWST)

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Hannah Darlington celebrates one of her four wickets in the Sydney Thunder's comprehensive victory over the Melbourne Renegades on Wednesday. (Image: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

A four-wicket haul from Kamilaroi seamer Hannah Darlington has lead the Sydney Thunder to victory over the Melbourne Renegades in Match 19 of the Women's Big Bash League.

Darlington took a career-best 4-33 from her four overs, playing a crucial role in the Thunder's defence of 5-190 at the Junction Oval.

After clean bowling Courtney Webb (13 from 11), Darlington went on to pick up England international Tammy Beaumont (37 from 29) in the 12th over of the chase, the Renegades opener caught by countrywoman Heather Knight in regulation fashion at mid-off.

Darlington struck again the very next ball, clean bowling the Renegades' new batter, Georgia Prestwidge.

The crafty medium pacer then claimed the wicket of Georgia Wareham (25 from 11), three overs later, reducing the Renegades to 6-107 and all but sealing victory for the Thunder.

The Renegades finished the chase 37 runs short, ending on 7-153 after their 20 overs, with Darlington named Player of the Match.

*Darlington's four overs came at an economy of less than eight runs per over. (Image: Daniel Pockettt/Getty Images)*

Earlier, emerging Gumbaynggirr batter Anika Learoyd (15 from 11) got a start with the bat, however it was Knight (52* from 31) who was at her damaging best for the Thunder after strong contributions from openers Tahlia Wilson (30 from 23) and Chamari Athapaththu (32 from 26) set up the imposing total.

Following the match, Knight, who captains England at the international level said Darlington is quickly finding her groove in the Thunder's attack alongside overseas player draft number one pick, Marizanne Kapp.

"Having seen (Darlington) a few years ago and knowing what sort of bowler she is, I think she's put on a bit of pace, which is really nice," Knight said, via cricket.com.au.

"I think she's starting to trust her stock ball a little bit.

"Her and Kappie have formed a really nice relationship, which is nice.

"They're bouncing ideas off each other. The Surge is such a hard place to bowl, it's a really tough thing to do and those two are working really well when they do bowl it."

The 21-year-old, who captained the Australian women's Indigenous team on their tour of Vanuatu earlier this year, said she is eager to learn as much as she can from the current number one ranked allrounder in women's ODI cricket.

*Darlington's four wickets earned her Player of the Match honours. (Image: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)*

"I've attached myself to (Kapp's) hip as I planned to do and we had a really good conversation in the innings break about how we wanted to go about the Surge," Darlington said, via cricket.com.au.

"We thought one of us would be bowling it, but we both ended up taking an over and to take three wickets in the surge is pretty special, especially from two quicks as well.

"We've been having some great conversations.

Darlington said it was nice to be back in the wickets after lean start to the season.

"But in saying that, I wasn't too fussed about the wickets, so I just wanted to be economical for the team, I find my job is more in that avenue," she said.

"We have some pretty genuine wicket takers like Kappie and even Chamari has been doing a great job for us (so) the wickets were a bonus but it was just nice to be going at under 10 an over."

The Sydney Thunder currently sit third on the WBBL|09 ladder with a 3-1 record.