Star West Indies allrounder Hayley Matthews (69) set the tone for the innings after the Renegades were sent in to bat in Sunday's final at the MCG.
The opener played with restraint early, before using the power surge from the 12th over to go after the Heat's bowling attack.
Matthews played a lone hand for the Renegades as she made it through until the final over before being dismissed, with Georgia Wareham (21) posting the second highest score.
Big wicket on drinks!— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) Grace Parsons removes Georgia Wareham for 21. #WBBL10 pic.twitter.com/yrQaFqzk6HDecember 1, 2024
Emerging stars Charli Knott (3-26) and Grace Parsons (2-29) were the most prolific of the Heat's bowlers, but spinner Jessica Jonassen (1-25) also sent down four handy overs.
If the Heat go down in a thriller, they will be left to rue some sloppy fielding, especially early in the innings.
Laura Harris cost the Heat when she took a ping at the stumps with no back-up, resulting in four overthrows.
While Matthews was on fire, her fellow West Indies teammate Deandra Dottin was run out in horrific fashion after her bat got stuck in the ground just short of the line.
Dottin would have comfortably survived had she extended her bat properly, but got caught out by being too lazy.
How about that 😳— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) Deandra Dottin is out without facing a ball in bizarre circumstances! #WBBL10 pic.twitter.com/3aqgl9fWTFDecember 1, 2024
The Renegades, who finished bottom of the table last season, are trying to breakthrough for their first title in the 10th season of the WBBL.
The Heat won back-to-back titles in 2018-19 and 2019-20, but another final win would give them a record-breaking third championship.
Organisers are hoping for a crowd of about 5000 after deciding to play the decider at the MCG, instead of the Junction Oval in St Kilda, when the Renegades won hosting rights.
20°C