Sydney Sixers post 140 for 6 and strike early as the Renegades begin their chase

Sydney Sixers Women were held to 140 for 6 at Junction Oval before striking in the first over of Melbourne Renegades Women's reply

The unbeaten Sydney Sixers Women won the toss and chose to bat in the 20th match of the Women's Big Bash League, and were restricted to 140 for 6 from their 20 overs at Junction Oval.

The Renegades lost Hayley Matthews for 1 from 4 balls in the second over of the chase, caught by Amelia Kerr off Lauren Cheatle.

The hosts were 6 for 1 after 2.2 overs, needing 141 to inflict the Sixers' first defeat of the season.

Sixers batted first and were held to 140

Ash Gardner's side opted to bat on winning the toss, in the first night fixture the Renegades have hosted at Junction Oval this season. The game was scheduled to start at 7.10pm local time.

The Sixers used their full 20 overs to reach 140 for 6, leaving the Renegades a target of 141 and a required rate of just over seven an over.

The Sixers had won each of their first four matches of the campaign before arriving in Melbourne.

It is the first of two meetings between the sides inside four days, with the return fixture in Sydney on Sunday.

Wareham concedes 21 in her four overs

Georgia Wareham bowled out her allocation for 1-21, conceding a little over five an over.

The leg-spinner was the pick of the Renegades' attack on the figures available, and her four overs did much to hold the Sixers short of 150.

Six Sixers wickets fell across the 20 overs, so the innings was never closed out early, and the visitors batted through to the final ball.

Cheatle strikes in the first over of the reply

Caoimhe Bray opened the bowling and conceded three runs from the first over of the chase. Cheatle then needed only her own opening over to break through.

Matthews picked out Kerr to fall for 1 from 4 balls with the score on 4, the left-arm quick striking with the second ball of her spell.

Olivia Porter had 3 from 4 at the other end when the wicket fell, with Courtney Webb to come at number three. The dismissal left the Renegades needing 137 from 111 balls.

Gardner reaches 150 matches in magenta

The match is Ash Gardner's 150th in the competition, every one of them played for the Sixers, making her the first player to reach the mark with the club.

Gardner, 29, has been a Sixer since WBBL01. She arrived at Junction Oval with 222 runs and six wickets from her first three matches of the season.

Those returns included 124 and 3-23 against the Hobart Hurricanes, 34 and 1-37 against the Melbourne Stars, and an unbeaten 64 with 2-37 against the Sydney Thunder.

Ellyse Perry is one game behind her and will play her own 150th match for the club on Sunday, when the Sixers host these same Renegades at North Sydney Oval.

Both sides named unchanged squads

The Sixers made no changes to their group, with Maddy Darke out injured and Maitlan Brown and Elsa Hunter omitted. Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley, Erin Burns and Courtney Sippel were all available alongside Gardner, Perry and Kerr.

The Renegades also kept faith with their squad of 13, naming Sophie Molineux as captain alongside Deandra Dottin, Chloe Tryon, Tayla Vlaeminck, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff and Annie Wikman, with the final XI confirmed at the toss.

Grace Lyons, Frankie Nicklin, Eva Ragg and Sarah Coyte completed the Sixers' named group, while Milly Illingworth and Sara Kennedy filled out the Renegades' 13.

It is the fifth match of the Renegades' season, and a first chance to take down an unbeaten side.

Live: Sydney Sixers Women 140 for 6 (20 overs); Melbourne Renegades Women 6 for 1 (2.2 overs).