BBL 07, Match 37, Review: Renegades knock Thunder out of BBL with a 9-run win

Melbourne Renegades have defeated Sydney Thunder by nine runs in an important clash at Manuka Oval in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL). This was the first and only game of the tournament arranged in Canberra as it turned out to be a thriller. The game ebbed and flowed right through with the team in green refusing to give up. However, it was Dwayne Bravo and his men who kept their cool and kicked their opposition out of the competition.

Sydney Thunder opted to bowl first after winning the toss as they went into the game without their in-form player Usman Khawaja. Renegades changed their opening combination on the day as Marcus Harris and Matthew Short came out to bat in the middle. Both pummelled the bowlers of their opposition to provide their side with an amazing start. The former was more aggressive in his intent though making up for his poor form during the tournament.

However, Short was the first one to go in the 9th over with the score reading 77. Meanwhile, Harris notched up his half-century, an innings filled with enterprising strokes. He scored 64 off just 41 deliveries even as Renegades lost some momentum after his wicket. Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard struggled to hit the ball out of the park during their brief stay but managed to score crucial runs. Though it was Beau Webster who provided the final flourish by smashing 25 runs in the last over Mitchell McClenaghan.

Renegades posted a hefty total of 189 runs for the loss of 6 wickets after 20 overs. All the bowlers were expensive for Thunder with only Fawad Ahmed conceding 27 runs in his four overs along with a solitary wicket. While Gurinder Sandhu scalped a couple but gave away 37 runs in his quota.

The chase which ebbed and flowed

Thunder got off to the worst possible start with James Vince being dismissed in the second over by Chris Tremain. The same bowler scalped Kurtis Patterson after which Shane Watson, the skipper, smashed three sixes to keep his side in the hunt. But even he was sent back to the hut along with Jay Lenton as the scorecard read 51/4 in the 8th over. Though the duo of Arjun Nair and Ben Rohrer had different ideas as their counterpunch caught Renegades off guard.

Both added 84 runs in just 38 deliveries which kept the team in green well and truly alive in the competition. But they were dismissed in the successive overs by Kane Richardson which snuffed out all the momentum in the chase. However, they were not giving up so easily as Chris Green fought until the end and was only dismissed with the team needing 14 off the final five deliveries. Eventually, Thunder were bundled out for 180 runs only 10 runs short of the target.

Richardson was the best bowler for his side as he picked 4 wickets conceding only 22 runs in a high-scoring game. The other bowlers supported him well and kept on picking the wickets despite Thunder were going for runs. Kane Richardson was awarded Man of the Match for his excellent bowling figures in a high-scoring game.

Thunder have now been knocked out and Renegades have almost sealed their place n the semi-finals with only Brisbane Heat challenging them whose net run-rate is in negative.

Brief Scores

Melbourne Renegades 189/6 after 20 overs (M Harris 64; G Sandhu 2/37)

Sydney Thunder 180 after 20 overs (B Rohrer 48, A Nair 45; K RIchardson 4/22)

Result: Renegades won by 9 runs

Man of the Match: Kane Richardson

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