WBBL: Perth Scorchers once again defend low total at WACA Ground in superb win over Melbourne Renegades

Fourth-game Perth Scorcher Ebony Hoskin has bowled a clutch final over to seal a third freakish defence in as many games at the WACA Ground this season.

Melbourne Renegades bowler Sarah Coyte needed four runs off the final ball, but could only manage a single as the ball ricocheted through to the wicketkeeper.

They needed eight off the final over, with West Australian debutant Charris Bekker at the crease after overturning an lbw decision in the penultimate over.

The Scorchers had just 108 runs on the board but kept the Renegades to 8-106 on Thursday night. They now have a 3-1 record and are equal on points with Sydney Thunder at the top of the league.

They have scored no more than 142 in any of their wins.

Hoskin, the New South Wales swing bowler who signed on the eve of the season, bowled the perfect final over, which included a dot and no more than one run off any ball. The final delivery beat the bat of Coyte and the Renegades could only sneak through for a bye.

“When Soph handed me the ball I was pretty excited, I was pretty excited and I thought ‘how cool would this be’ this would be a good experience,” Hoskin said.

“Now that it’s sunk in I’ve a bit more shaky and nervous. The crowd was unreal, it’s moments that you dream of as a young kid … it was pretty special.

“I knew that singles and dot balls would help. I have bowled against Coytey a few times before … I knew she would try go a bit leg-side and just tried to follow her as much as possible and keep the stumps in play.”

Alana King continued her stunning form to start the season and took the match-swinging wicket of West Indies star Deandre Dottin on 40.

The Perth leg-spinner finished with 3-23 and now has 13 wickets, the most of any bowler in the tournament. That’s after she helped Mikayla Hinkley save their batting innings.

Renegades off-spinner Alice Capsey took 5-25, including the final four batters.

Chloe Ainsworth beat the bat of Hayley Matthews with her first ball, then had Courtney Webb caught behind with her third. She went wide again to Capsey, who slashed a ball to point the very next ball.

Sophie Devine took the wicket of Naomi Stalenberg in a wily spell and Alana King removed the dangerous Hayley Matthews, caught at cover, with a set play.

Amy Edgar bowled Australian all-rounder Georgia Wareham with an arm ball, which meant Devine pulled the trigger on Ainsworth again.

The teen sensation beat the bat of Deandre Dottin, who had raced through the teens with a four and a six in Devine’s second over, but couldn’t take the scalp they went hunting.

Dottin proved elusive, but Devine bowled a peach of a ball that the decision review system found had caught the edge of Nicole Faltum’s bat. It left the Renegades at 6-58 and in a hole.

A slot ball from Edgar that was whacked into the stands and two other bad balls that went for Dottin boundaries in a 14-run over hauled the visitors into the contest again.

Teenage Renegades quick Milly Illingworth ripped through the Scorchers’ top order. She had captain Devine caught at mid-wicket with a brute of a ball that reared up at her chest.

Hemalatha Dayalan’s hit the first boundary of the night off Alice Capsey and then chipped a return catch to the off-spinner. Amy Jones’ dismissal was just as soft, she spooned a ball to cover for four off Illingworth.

The 19-year-old bowled all four of her overs up front and took 2-15.

The recovery mission was left for Hinkley, recruited for just that job, but she was forced to graft and scored 12 runs off her first 20 balls.

The former Brisbane Heat batter hit the only six for the innings and got to 32. Her most promising partnership was with Ainsworth, who made 14 and the power surge was activated for King, who took its first over for 12.

Earlier in Perth, former Scorcher Taneale Peschel debuted for the Thunder and took two wickets in their 19-run win over Brisbane Heat.