Table of Contents
MLR-W vs SYT-W Fantasy Team – Match Details
Match: Melbourne Renegades Women vs Sydney Thunder Women, 1st Match
Series: Women’s Big Bash League 2026
Date: Thursday, 29 October 2026
Time: 10:10 AM IST (3:40 PM local time)
Venue: Junction Oval, Melbourne
This is the opening game of WBBL 2026. Both teams now have their international stars back after the T20 Spring Challenge. Sydney Thunder reached the semi final of the Spring Challenge and beat the Renegades in the group stage. The Renegades are led by Sophie Molineux.
Recent Form
This is the first game of WBBL 2026. In the T20 Spring Challenge this month:
Melbourne Renegades Women:
- Beat Hobart Hurricanes by 8 wickets (Hurricanes 129/8, Renegades 132/2).
- Lost to Sydney Thunder by 5 wickets (Renegades 121/9, Thunder 122/5).
- Beat Melbourne Stars by 1 run (Renegades 180/4). Tess Flintoff took 4/32.
- Lost to Perth Scorchers by 6 wickets. Nicole Faltum 44 off 47, Tess Flintoff 39 off 23 and 3/34.
Sydney Thunder Women:
- Lost the semi final to Sydney Sixers by 4 wickets (Thunder 152/9).
- Beat Perth Scorchers by 8 wickets (Scorchers 92 all out).
- Beat Melbourne Renegades by 5 wickets.
- Beat Melbourne Stars by 7 wickets. Jemma Barsby 5/10, Samantha Bates 3/14, Tahlia Wilson 31 off 16.
Points Table
This is the first game of the season, so both teams are on zero points.
MLR-W vs SYT-W Head To Head
The Renegades have won 7 of the last 10 games between these teams. Thunder won their last meeting in the Spring Challenge.
MLR-W vs SYT-W Squads
Melbourne Renegades Women: Sophie Molineux (C), Nicole Faltum (WK), Deandra Dottin, Hayley Matthews, Chloe Tryon, Tess Flintoff, Milly Illingworth, Sara Kennedy, Olivia Porter, Sophie Reid, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham, Courtney Webb, Annie Wikman
Sydney Thunder Women: Phoebe Litchfield (C), Tahlia Wilson (WK), Jemma Barsby, Samantha Bates, Lauren Bell, Hannah Darlington, Nadine de Klerk, Lucy Finn, Hasrat Gill, Nicola Hancock, Laura Harris, Heather Knight, Anika Learoyd, Georgia Voll
Pitch Report
Junction Oval has hosted 55 women’s T20s. The average first innings score is 147, and the team bowling first has won 60% of games. Pace and spin have taken almost the same number of wickets in the last 10 games.
For fantasy, pick a mix of pace and spin bowlers and the top order batters. Chasing has worked well here, so bowl first if you win the toss. Around 150 looks like a good total.
Weather Report
It should be cool and mostly dry in Melbourne on Thursday, with a high of about 18°C and only a small chance of rain.
Probable Playing XIs
Melbourne Renegades Women: Hayley Matthews, Courtney Webb, Deandra Dottin, Sophie Molineux (c), Georgia Wareham, Chloe Tryon, Nicole Faltum (wk), Tess Flintoff, Sophie Reid, Tayla Vlaeminck, Milly Illingworth
Sydney Thunder Women: Phoebe Litchfield (c), Georgia Voll, Heather Knight, Tahlia Wilson (wk), Anika Learoyd, Nadine de Klerk, Hannah Darlington, Jemma Barsby, Samantha Bates, Lauren Bell, Lucy Finn
This is the first game of the season, and most international players did not play in the Spring Challenge. These XIs are our best guess from the WBBL squads. Final XIs come at the toss.
Top Fantasy Picks
- Hayley Matthews (MLR-W, all rounder): Opens the batting and bowls four overs. Points from both.
- Tess Flintoff (MLR-W, all rounder): 4/32 and 3/34 in the Spring Challenge, plus 39 off 23.
- Phoebe Litchfield (SYT-W, batter): Thunder captain and top order batter.
- Jemma Barsby (SYT-W, bowler): 5/10 against the Stars in the Spring Challenge.
- Nadine de Klerk (SYT-W, all rounder): Hits hard down the order and bowls pace.
- Georgia Wareham (MLR-W, all rounder): Leg spinner who also bats.
- Heather Knight (SYT-W, all rounder): Experienced batter who bowls off spin.
Most stars have not played yet this month, so these picks mix Spring Challenge numbers with each player’s role.
MLR-W vs SYT-W Fantasy Team: Small Leagues
Wicketkeeper: Tahlia Wilson
Batters: Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Courtney Webb
All rounders: Hayley Matthews (C), Tess Flintoff (Vc), Nadine de Klerk, Heather Knight
Bowlers: Jemma Barsby, Georgia Wareham, Samantha Bates
Captain: Hayley Matthews. An all rounder who opens the batting and bowls four overs.
Vice captain: Tess Flintoff. 7 wickets in her two games against the Stars and Scorchers in the Spring Challenge.
MLR-W vs SYT-W Fantasy Team: Grand Leagues
Wicketkeepers: Tahlia Wilson, Nicole Faltum
Batters: Phoebe Litchfield, Deandra Dottin
All rounders: Tess Flintoff (C), Hayley Matthews (Vc), Nadine de Klerk, Sophie Molineux
Bowlers: Jemma Barsby, Samantha Bates, Lauren Bell
Captain: Tess Flintoff. An all rounder with wickets in every Spring Challenge game we tracked. Few people will make her captain.
Vice captain: Hayley Matthews. Points with bat and ball.
Differentials: Nicole Faltum made 44 in the Spring Challenge and keeps wicket. Lauren Bell bowls fast with the new ball.
Also Read: Best Fantasy Apps 2026 — Free Contests, Referral Codes and Honest Reviews
Match Prediction
The Renegades are at home and have a strong group of all rounders in Matthews, Dottin, Tryon and Flintoff. Thunder were the more consistent side in the Spring Challenge and have added Litchfield, Knight and Bell. Our pick is the Renegades to win at home, but it should be close.
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FAQs – MLR-W vs SYT-W Fantasy Team
Who will win Melbourne Renegades Women vs Sydney Thunder Women today?
The Renegades have won 7 of the last 10 games against Thunder. We pick the Renegades.
What is the MLR-W vs SYT-W Fantasy prediction?
In small leagues, go with Hayley Matthews as captain and Tess Flintoff as vice captain. In grand leagues, try Tess Flintoff as captain and Hayley Matthews as vice captain.
What is the pitch report for Junction Oval, Melbourne?
The average first innings score is 147, and the team bowling first has won 60% of games. Around 150 looks like a good total.
What is the probable playing XI for Melbourne Renegades Women vs Sydney Thunder Women?
These XIs are built from the WBBL squads, because this is the first game. Final XIs come at the toss.
Who are the best captain and vice captain picks for MLR-W vs SYT-W?
Hayley Matthews, Tess Flintoff and Nadine de Klerk are the best all rounder picks. Phoebe Litchfield is the best batting pick.
What time does Melbourne Renegades Women vs Sydney Thunder Women start?
The match starts at 10:10 AM IST on Thursday, 29 October 2026. That is 3:40 PM local time in Melbourne.
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