BBL 5 Match 19 Review: Gayle, Finch powers Renegades to an emphatic win

Chris Tremain’s fine spell of 1/11 and a blistering opening stand between Chris Gayle and Aaron Finch helped the Renegades chase 140 with 36 balls to spare, making it look like a walk around the park.

Aaron Finch won the toss and elected to field under a clear bright sky. The decision resulted in an early breakthrough as Tim Paine missed a simple flick and ended up losing his wicket. Tremain conceeded only one run in his first over, bowling at good length with a strict line and came back in the next over to pick Kumar Sangakkara’s wicket with a short delivery to his off to leave the Hurricanes at 20/2.

B.Dunk cleared the fence on occasions but Hobart had to deal with George Bailey’s wicket too. Cameron Gannon bowling the last over of power-play, bowled a shortish delivery and Bailey timed it to mid-on, and the batting team were tottering at three wickets down with 20 on the board.

Both Daniel Christian and Dunk took the game from there on and steadied the ship. Christian smacked a massive six off Gannon’s third over, and followed it up with another in the same over. He then carved Rimmington over point and thrashed the next one to short fine leg to bring up his fifty. Both the batsmen went for big ones at the slog overs and ended up losing their wickets. Well’s 18-ball 26 helped Hurricanes post a competitive total, after the batter belted a six to take his team to 140 at the end of 20 overs.

Chasing 141, Chris Gayle took the matter in his own hand, by slamming Reed for two boundaries in one over. He then thwacked Shaun Tait for two sixes and a boundary. Tait was bowling full and wide and had to pay the price. It was raining sixes, as Gayle cleared one foot and guided the ball to the stands to take the score to 52 after 4 overs.

Aaron Finch couldn’t stay silent for too long, stroking three boundaries in the fifth over, as the score went past half the target. Gayle slammed three sixes and four boundaries before getting out at deep midwicket. Finch soon brought up his fifty by picking Boyce’s flighted one early and clearing the cover for a boundary. Boyce got Finch in the next over but the damage was done.

Matthew Wade came to the crease, with the Renegades needing 22 runs to win with more than nine overs to play. Renegades lost four wickets for 33 runs but it was too little too late for the Hurricanes. Cameron White sent a full and wide delivery from Rainbird to the fence and that summed up Melbourne’s much needed victory. Boyce was the pick of the bowlers for Hobart but his vital three wickets went in vain, as Renegades fired through all cylinders and were backed by some brilliant spell from Tremain

Brief Scores:

Hobart Hurricanes- 140/5 in 20 overs (Christian 58; Dohetry 2/19)

Melbourne Renegades- 144/5 in 14 overs (Finch 60; Boyce 3/34)

Man of the match:  CP Tremain (Melbourne Renegades)