Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder opens the new Women’s Big Bash League season, and it does so with a result still fresh in everyone’s memory. The last time these two sides met, in November 2025, the Thunder were bowled out for just 64 and the Renegades chased it down with 53 balls to spare. Now they meet again in the first match of WBBL 2026 at Junction Oval in Melbourne, and the Thunder, under new captain Phoebe Litchfield, have a chance to reset the story straight away.
WBBL live coverage starts on Thursday, October 29, 2026, and runs until early December. This guide is built for match day: it covers the timing in IST and local time, where to follow the live score, last season’s scorecard, both squads, the players to watch, head-to-head stats and the records fans keep searching for, including the Thunder’s infamous 15 all out and their highest T20 total. Everything is in tables, so you can find what you need quickly. A quick note on names: “Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder” can also mean the men’s Big Bash League teams, so this article covers both where it helps.
Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder: WBBL 2026 Match Details
WBBL 2026, officially WBBL|12, is the 12th season of Australia’s women’s T20 league, scheduled from October 29 to December 5, 2026. The opening game, Match 1, is Renegades against Thunder at Junction Oval, the main ground used by both Melbourne teams. It starts at 3:40 PM local time in Melbourne, which is 10:10 AM IST.
Match Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Match 1, Weber WBBL |
| Date | Thursday, October 29, 2026 |
| Venue | Junction Oval (CitiPower Centre), Melbourne |
| Local start | 3:40 PM AEDT |
| Start in IST | 10:10 AM |
| Start in GMT | 4:40 AM |
| Captains | Sophie Molineux (Renegades), Phoebe Litchfield (Thunder) |
| Season dates | October 29 to December 5, 2026 |
Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder Live Score: How to Follow It
Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder live score pages are best followed on the official match centre of Cricket Australia, the ESPNcricinfo match page or the Cricbuzz live page, all of which update ball by ball. At the time of writing, the match hadn’t started, so this article shows the pre-match picture and the last meeting’s full scorecard rather than a live score. Once play begins, use the live page for the current score and reload for the latest.
In Australia, coverage is reported on Channel 7, 7plus, Kayo and Foxtel, with ABC also listed. Rights outside Australia differ by country, so check your local listings.
Where to Watch WBBL Live
| Region | Where to Follow (as reported) |
|---|---|
| Australia | Channel 7, 7plus, Kayo, Foxtel, ABC |
| Live score (global) | Cricket Australia match centre, ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz |
| India | Check local listings for broadcast and streaming |
Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder Scorecard: The Last Meeting
Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder scorecard from the last WBBL meeting, on November 23, 2025, is the best guide to how lopsided this contest can be. Sydney Thunder were bowled out for 64 in 17 overs, with Heather Knight top-scoring on 20 from 24 balls and Anika Learoyd making 13. Georgia Wareham took 3 for 12 and Charis Bekker 2 for 14. In reply, the Renegades reached 68 for 2 in 11.1 overs to win by 8 wickets with 53 balls remaining, with captain Sophie Molineux unbeaten on 29 from 22 balls and Alice Capsey on 24 not out.
WBBL|11, 21st Match: Renegades vs Thunder (November 23, 2025)
| Team | Score | Top Performers |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney Thunder Women | 64 all out (17 overs) | Heather Knight 20 (24), Anika Learoyd 13 (17) |
| Melbourne Renegades Women | 68/2 (11.1 overs) | Sophie Molineux 29* (22), Alice Capsey 24* (20) |
| Best bowlers | Renegades | Georgia Wareham 3/12, Charis Bekker 2/14 |
| Result | Renegades won by 8 wickets | 53 balls remaining |
Melbourne Renegades Women Squad for WBBL 2026
Melbourne Renegades Women enter the season with a strong, multi-skilled group. Sophie Molineux leads the side and has played more than 100 WBBL games. The squad includes West Indies stars Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin, South Africa’s Chloe Tryon, and Australian bowlers Georgia Wareham and Tayla Vlaeminck. The Renegades won their first WBBL title in 2024-25 and finished fifth last season with five wins and five losses.
Renegades Squad (as listed in match previews)
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain | Sophie Molineux |
| Overseas players | Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin, Chloe Tryon |
| Batters / all-rounders | Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Olivia Porter, Sara Kennedy, Annie Wikman |
| Bowlers | Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck, Milly Illingworth, Sophie Reid, Courtney Webb |
Sydney Thunder Women Squad for WBBL 2026
Sydney Thunder Women are led by Phoebe Litchfield and look to rebuild after a difficult WBBL|11. The side includes England captain Heather Knight, Marizanne-style overseas depth in Nadine de Klerk, and England seamer Lauren Bell, alongside Australian talent like Georgia Voll, Hannah Darlington and Tahlia Wilson. Previews describe the side as leaner and more focused under Litchfield.
Thunder Squad (as listed in match previews)
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain | Phoebe Litchfield |
| Overseas players | Heather Knight, Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk |
| Batters / wicketkeepers | Georgia Voll, Tahlia Wilson, Anika Learoyd, Laura Harris, Jemma Barsby, Sam Bates |
| Bowlers / all-rounders | Hannah Darlington, Hasrat Gill, Nicola Hancock, Lucy Finn |
Squad lists come from match previews and may not include every registered player. The playing XIs are confirmed at the toss.
Players to Watch in Renegades vs Thunder
Sophie Molineux is the heartbeat of the Renegades, a left-arm spinner who bats usefully and captains the side, and she made the winning runs last time these two played. Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin bring international T20 power with bat and ball, and Georgia Wareham’s leg-spin did the damage against the Thunder last season with 3 for 12.
For the Thunder, Phoebe Litchfield’s captaincy and opening batting will shape the innings, Heather Knight offers calm experience in the middle order, and Georgia Voll adds attacking depth at the top. Lauren Bell and Nadine de Klerk give the Thunder an international-quality bowling attack.
Key Players
| Player | Team | Why They Matter |
|---|---|---|
| Sophie Molineux | Renegades | Captain and left-arm spinner; unbeaten 29 last time |
| Hayley Matthews | Renegades | Overseas all-rounder with bat and ball |
| Deandra Dottin | Renegades | Power-hitter and a bowling option |
| Georgia Wareham | Renegades | Leg-spinner; 3/12 against the Thunder in 2025 |
| Phoebe Litchfield | Thunder | Captain and top-order batter |
| Heather Knight | Thunder | England captain; top scorer in the last meeting |
| Georgia Voll | Thunder | Attacking opener |
| Lauren Bell | Thunder | Overseas seamer |
Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder Stats and Head-to-Head
Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder stats show a rivalry that has historically leaned toward the Thunder. One tracker put the women’s head-to-head at 19 matches, with the Thunder winning 11 and the Renegades 8. The Renegades have won the most recent meeting, in November 2025, by a big margin. The Thunder have also shown they can post big totals against the Renegades, with one tracker listing 200 as their highest score in the fixture.
Women’s Head-to-Head (One Tracker)
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 19 (as of that tracker) |
| Thunder wins | 11 |
| Renegades wins | 8 |
| Most recent meeting | Renegades won by 8 wickets (November 23, 2025) |
Head-to-head counts differ slightly between sites depending on when they were last updated.
What Happened to the Melbourne Renegades?
Melbourne Renegades have had a mixed few seasons across both leagues. In the WBBL, they broke through to win their first title in 2024-25, then finished fifth in WBBL|11 with five wins from ten league games. In the men’s Big Bash League, the Renegades lost to the Sydney Thunder in January 2026 in a rain-affected match decided by the DLS method, in which they chose to retire Mohammad Rizwan out during their innings of 170 for 8. The Thunder chased down their target with Chris Green and Nic Maddinson leading the way.
Renegades Recent Form at a Glance
| Season | League | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | WBBL | 10 |
| 2025-26 | WBBL | 11 |
| Jan 12, 2026 | Men’s BBL | Lost to Sydney Thunder by 4 wickets (DLS) |
Did Melbourne Renegades Win the BBL?
Did Melbourne Renegades win the BBL has a yes answer in both leagues. The Renegades women won their first WBBL title in 2024-25. The men’s side also lifted the Big Bash League trophy once, in 2018-19. Their record is better than their reputation for inconsistency suggests, though both teams have also had long stretches of struggle.
Renegades Titles
| Team | Competition | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Renegades Women | WBBL | 10 |
| Renegades Men | BBL | 08 |
Which Team Got All Out in 15 Runs?
Which team got all out in 15 runs is a famous cricket record, and the answer is the Sydney Thunder men’s team. On December 16, 2022, the Thunder were bowled out for just 15 by the Adelaide Strikers at Sydney Showground Stadium, chasing 140, in 5.5 overs. It remains the lowest total in men’s professional T20 cricket. Adelaide’s Henry Thornton took 5 for 3 and Wes Agar took 4 for 6. No Thunder batter reached double figures; Brendan Doggett’s 4 was the top score, and the Strikers won by 124 runs. The previous lowest BBL total was 57 by the Melbourne Renegades in 2015.
The 15 All-Out Match
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 16, 2022 |
| Venue | Sydney Showground Stadium |
| Thunder total | 15 all out in 5.5 overs |
| Top scorer | Brendan Doggett, 4 |
| Best bowling | Henry Thornton 5/3, Wes Agar 4/6 |
| Result | Adelaide Strikers won by 124 runs |
| Previous lowest BBL total | 57 by Melbourne Renegades (2015) |
What Is Sydney Thunder’s Highest Score in a T20 Match?
Sydney Thunder’s highest score in the men’s Big Bash League is 232 for 5, made against the Sydney Sixers at Adelaide Oval on January 22, 2021, in a match where Alex Hales hit 110 off 56 balls. At the time, it was the highest total in BBL history, beating Hobart Hurricanes’ 223 for 8. The Thunder also made 228 for 6 against Hobart in December 2022 and 219 for 7 against the Stars in December 2020. In the women’s WBBL, the Thunder have crossed 200 several times, with one source saying four times.
Thunder’s Biggest BBL Totals (Men’s)
| Score | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232/5 | Sydney Sixers | Adelaide Oval | January 22, 2021 |
| 228/6 | Hobart Hurricanes | Albury | December 31, 2022 |
| 219/7 | Melbourne Stars | Canberra | December 29, 2020 |
| 209/8 | Melbourne Renegades | Canberra | December 26, 2020 |
| 209/7 | Melbourne Renegades | Melbourne | January 8, 2022 |
Men’s Big Bash: Renegades vs Thunder Last Meeting
Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder scorecard searches also bring up the men’s result from January 12, 2026. The Renegades posted 170 for 8, led by Hassan Khan’s 46 from 31 balls and Josh Brown’s 35. In reply, the Thunder were 140 for 6 after 15.2 of a revised 16 overs, winning by 4 wickets by DLS with Chris Green hitting 34 from 13 balls and Nic Maddinson 25 from 15. Gurinder Sandhu took 4 for 42 for the Renegades.
Men’s BBL, January 12, 2026
| Team | Score | Top Performers |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Renegades | 170/8 (20 overs) | Hassan Khan 46 (31), Josh Brown 35 (25) |
| Sydney Thunder | 140/6 (15.2 of 16 overs) | Chris Green 34* (13), Sam Billings 33 (27) |
| Result | Thunder won by 4 wickets (DLS) | Gurinder Sandhu 4/42 for Renegades |
Frequently Asked Questions About Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder
1. When is Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder in WBBL 2026?
It’s the opening match, on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Junction Oval, Melbourne, starting at 3:40 PM local time, which is 10:10 AM IST.
2. What happened to the Melbourne Renegades?
The Renegades women won their first WBBL title in 2024-25 and finished fifth last season with five wins and five losses. The men’s team lost to the Thunder by 4 wickets (DLS) in January 2026, after retiring Mohammad Rizwan out.
3. Which team got all out in 15 runs?
The Sydney Thunder men’s team, bowled out for 15 by the Adelaide Strikers on December 16, 2022, in a BBL match. It’s the lowest total in men’s professional T20 cricket.
4. What is Sydney Thunder’s highest score in a T20 match?
In the men’s BBL, it’s 232 for 5 against the Sydney Sixers at Adelaide Oval on January 22, 2021.
5. Did Melbourne Renegades win the BBL?
Yes. The men’s team won in 2018-19, and the women’s team won the WBBL for the first time in 2024-25.
6. Who captains the Renegades and the Thunder in WBBL 2026?
Sophie Molineux captains the Renegades and Phoebe Litchfield captains the Thunder.
7. What happened in the last Renegades vs Thunder WBBL match?
On November 23, 2025, the Thunder were bowled out for 64 and the Renegades chased it down for the loss of two wickets in 11.1 overs, winning by 8 wickets.
8. Where can I watch WBBL live?
In Australia, it’s reported on Channel 7, 7plus, Kayo, Foxtel and ABC. For live scores anywhere, use the Cricket Australia match centre, ESPNcricinfo or Cricbuzz.
9. Who are the overseas players in the two squads?
For the Renegades: Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin and Chloe Tryon. For the Thunder: Heather Knight, Lauren Bell and Nadine de Klerk.
10. What is the head-to-head between the women’s teams?
One tracker has the Thunder ahead 11 to 8 from 19 matches, though the Renegades won the latest meeting in November 2025.
11. When does WBBL 2026 end?
The season runs from October 29 to December 5, 2026.
12. Is the Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder match about men’s or women’s cricket?
This opener is in the Women’s Big Bash League. The same team names also play in the men’s BBL, so check which league a score or scorecard belongs to.
