Molineux named Rebel Young Gun

Emerging Melbourne Renegades allrounder Sophie Molineux has taken out the Rebel WBBL|03 Young Gun Award after an outstanding season in red.

The 20-year-old took her game to another level this summer, opening the batting for the Renegades and belting 318 runs at an average of 26.50, with a strike rate of 116.06, and producing some match-winning innings along the way.

She scored two-half centuries – her first in the competition – including a top score of 62 in her player-of-the-match performance against Rebel WBBL|03 finalists Perth Scorchers.

The left-arm orthodox spinner also took her season-best bowling figures of 2-31 in that match, and finished the season with six wickets and a neat economy rate of 6.39.

Molineux initially earned her Rebel Young Gun nomination in round two, after scoring 141 runs across the first five games, including dominant batting efforts against Brisbane Heat.

The Victorian allrounder has gone from strength to strength this summer, building on momentum that started in 2016-17.

Named the Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year at the AB Medal evening last January, Molineux carried that form into the 2017-18 season where she was named in Cricket Australia's first women's National Performance Squad and played in Ashes tour games against England.  

She's already represented Australia A and when Australia's current contracted players were asked to name the 'next big thing' to watch in WBBL|03, it was Molineux's name that cropped up time and time again.

Molineux was named the Rebel WBBL|03 Young Gun having accumulated the most umpire votes for players under the age of 21 years.

The other nominees for the award were Sydney Sixers’ Ashleigh Gardner – who took out the accolade in WBBL|02 – Renegades teammates Georgia Wareham and Maitlan Brown, exciting Adelaide Strikers batter Tabatha Saville, Melbourne Stars bowling revelation Annabel Sutherland, and promising Sydney Thunder bowler Belinda Vakarewa.

To be eligible for the award, cricketers must be under 21 at the start of the season. The nominees throughout the season were chosen based on on-field performance and on- and off-field attitude, with demonstration of skill, tenacity and good sportsmanship.

Each weekly winner received a $500 Rebel gift card, while Molineux as the overall winner will gain access to a tailored mentor program and prize pack valued at over $6000.