Melbourne Renegades beat Sydney Thunder with nine wickets to go top of the Women’s Big Bash (WBBL) table and close in on an automatic place in the final.

The side that tops the 10-team table at the end of the group stage will automatically reach the final on 1 December.

The Thunder have led the way for most of the tournament, but the loss sees the Renegades pass them in the final round of games.

Hayley Matthews hit an unbeaten 60 off 37 balls and Sophie Molineux 42 off 29 balls, as the Renegades chased 134 with 34 balls to spare.

Molineux had earlier taken 4-23 as Thunder were bowled out for 133, with Phoebe Litchfield top scoring with 30.

The Brisbane Heat can overtake the Renegades if they beat the Sydney Sixers on Sunday (09:05 GMT), with the net run determining who tops the table.

The Thunder are in the knockout, but whether they play in the knockout, between the third and fourth place team, or the Challenger, depends on the Heat’s results.