Maitlan Brown has rarely felt so elated: the Melbourne Renegades had made history. But there would be no celebrations beyond high-fives and a boisterous team song.
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Brown helped the Renegades book their ticket to a maiden WBBL finals campaign with a thrilling three-run triumph over the Hobart Hurricanes at Junction Oval on Saturday.
Such is the helter skelter nature of the Big Bash, the Renegades are back in action against the all-conquering Sydney Sixers in Geelong on Sunday.
The Sixers have won consecutive titles and are well on their way to a third in WBBL|04 - they were only an accurate Ellyse Perry throw away from winning the first tournament as well.
Now Brown will have to contend with a firing Perry after the superstar all-rounder busting records like she is a bull in a china shop (617 runs at 88.14 with two centuries).
Throw Alyssa Healy into the mix (385 runs at 38.50 with one ton), and Brown has a tall order ahead when it comes to knocking over her two grade cricket teammates - but she laughs there are no secrets hidden up her sleeve to get the job done.
"There’s a fair bit of footage out there nowadays, so no one can really hide," Brown said.
"If we’re playing the Sixers [in the semi-finals], it will definitely be a nice way to get a bit of practice in. We’ve shut them down a couple of times in the past, but I guess it’s all about execution.
"They’re an extremely good side, so you’ve got to make sure, whether you’re batting, bowling, or fielding, you’re doing that to the best you can.
"Especially trying to bowling at Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry - that can be pretty difficult sometimes. If you can execute against them, it makes it really hard for both of them."
Brown picked up 1-26 (3) in Melbourne's penultimate regular season match against Hobart, helping the hosts to defend 6-146 following Amy Satterthwaite's 66-run blitz.
If it weren't for Brown's impressive over at the death, the Renegades may well still be fighting for that elusive finals berth.
"Everyone is stoked, the relief from the last ball and finding out the Scorchers lost left us speechless really, we were just so excited," Brown said.
"It’s a great feeling. We’ve had so many chance in the past to make the finals and we’ve never pulled it off, so it’s really great to be the first Melbourne side to make the semis.
"[Bowling in the 18th over] was pretty nerve-racking, but I trusted myself and I know I’m pretty decent when it comes to death bowling. I just had to back myself and make sure I had my fields right, I was quite happy with it."
Melbourne's win books them a spot in the top four alongside the Sixers, Sydney Thunder and Brisbane Heat, with semi-finals getting underway at Drummoyne Oval on January 19.
The good news keeps on coming - English international Danni Wyatt has been granted permission by the ECB to remain in Australia for next weekend's semi-final, despite originally being due to depart Australia on Monday.
