Georgia Wareham was the answer to Melbourne Renegades’ call.
But her matchwinning knock against Adelaide Strikers on Saturday at Junction Oval may have posed a bigger question.
How can the Renegades get their star all-rounder facing more balls?
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Wareham’s unbeaten 73 from 31 balls was a reminder of her class and there’s no suggestion that elevating her further up the order couldn’t wreak even more havoc.
She lifted the Renegades’ innings out of a lull, which included six overs without a boundary, forming a superb partnership with Courtney Webb.
Webb (52 not out off 42 balls) and Wareham combined for the Renegades’ all-time highest fourth-wicket partnership (109).
The pair took 23 runs from the power surge before Wareham belted three consecutive sixes off Amanda Jade-Wellington.
Wareham faced the third most balls for the Renegades innings but her 235 strike rate soared above her teammates.
The plan for Wareham is for her to get in and accelerate the innings during the power surge.
Wareham said she would happily continue playing any role that would generate team success.
“I’m happy batting where I am… I’m trying to do my role for the team, whatever it is,” Wareham said.
“I think I have maybe batted at (number) four, I haven’t batted at three – I think Soph (Molineux), having a lefty in there, changes things for us.”
Melbourne Renegades set the Strikers 3-188 from their 20 overs on what was a terrific batting wicket.
The Strikers needed a record run chase to win and reached 0-65 in reply until a calamitous run out removed Emma de Broughe (27 off 24).
De Broughe was initially dropped at short fine leg by Hayley Matthews and benefited from two runs.
But she immediately wasted her chance by curiously turning for a third despite Matthews retrieving the ball.
Wareham then continued her brilliant match by dismissing the dangerous Laura Wolvaardt who had been shifted to No.3.
Maia Bouchier’s resistance (54 off 38) was undone by Milly Illingworth and the task for the Strikers grew too tall.
In another positive for Australian cricket, Tayla Vlaeminck looked back to her best with a stunning double-wicket maiden during the Strikers’ power surge.
The Strikers, which still have a game up their sleeve, fell out of the top four with the 36-run defeat.
The win keeps the Renegades in touch of the top four before two successive matches against the undefeated Sydney Sixers.