No-ball drama hands Renegades last-ball win against Hurricanes

One of cricket's rarely needed rules has cost Hobart Hurricanes in a four-wicket WBBL loss to Melbourne Renegades.

With one ball remaining in Renegades' run chase, scores were locked at 154 runs apiece in a Wednesday night thriller in Hobart. Renegades batter Deandra Dottin missed the final delivery, which was taken by wicketkeeper Lizelle Lee standing up to the stumps.

But as players readied for a Super Over finish, replays showed Lee had taken the ball just in front of the stumps, leading to a no-ball and a Renegades victory.

Hurricanes, with captain Nicola Carey top-scoring with 62 from 43 balls, posted 154 for 7 despite Renegades skipper Sophie Molineux taking 4-22.

Renegades, powered by opener Hayley Matthews (59 from 44 balls), were cruising at 1-101 in the 13th over. But the visitors stumbled, losing 5-37 to set up a bizarre finish that also featured a fielding restriction penalty against Hurricanes.

Hurricanes remain winless on the bottom of the ladder after three games amid injury concern over West Indies ace Chinelle Henry. Henry smacked 36 from 18 balls in Hobart's innings but, after bowling just one over costing 14 runs, hobbled from the field with a suspected hip injury. Henry's departure came as her compatriot Matthews dominated Hobart's bowlers with a classy knock laced with eight boundaries.

Matthews and Courtney Webb (29 from 25) advanced Renegades to 1-101 before late twists.

Webb's dismissal was rapidly followed by Molineux falling to a spectacular caught-and-bowled by Molly Strano, who leapt high to complete a one-hander. In the next over, the dangerous Matthews was bowled by Graham as the visitors slipped from 1-101 in the 13th over to a precarious 4-108 in a 12-ball span.

With 33 runs required from the last four overs, Renegades took the power surge and soon whittled down their target to five runs from three balls. Then, a fielding restriction penalty was imposed on the Hurricanes for not bowling their 20 overs in the specified time: they were only allowed two fielders outside the circle.

After a dot ball, Dottin edged the penultimate ball to the deep third boundary, where a fielder likely would have been stationed. With scores tied, Dottin couldn't make contact with the last ball and players converged, expecting a Super Over.

As they huddled, replays showed the gloves of Hurricanes 'keeper Lee taking the ball in front of the stumps and the umpires called a no-ball, giving Renegades the winning run and their first win of the tournament.