Well that's it for today folks! This is Anirudh, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Hitesh and our scorer/analyst Manish Bishnoi! Melbourne Renegades make it 3 consecutive victories for the first time in 3 years! Stay Tuned to our coverage of the Big Bash League to find out what's next in their journey! See you on the next one!
Andre Russell (Player of the match ):"It's just overwhelming to help the team to get over the line, we bowled pretty well to restrict the team near to a 130 is very good. It's good that I was just staying still and hitting the ball, my plan was to put the pressure back on the bowlers, and good that I executed it. Hosein played pretty well, Aaron Finch also played a tremendous role as I said him to just give me the strike."
AND WITH THAT THE MELBOURNE RENEGADES HAVE SNATCHED THE VICTORY IN THIS GAME! For the first time in 3 years, the men in red have completed 3 consecutive victories! Brisbane Heat will be left with a sour taste in their mouths after this.
Brisbane Heat won the bat flip and elected to bat first, and the Renegades chose to start their bowling with two spinners. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Akeal Hosein delivered their captain's trust, dismissing both the openers in the powerplay to leave the Heat reeling at 24/2 after 4 overs.
Thanks to Matt Renshaw (29 runs off 29 balls), Sam Billings (25 runs off 19 balls) and Peirson who top scored for the Heat with 45 runs off 30 deliveries, Brisbane Heat managed to put up a competitive score of 137/8 from their 20 overs. Tom Rogers was the star with the ball, picking up 4/23 from his 4 overs! While Akeal Hosein contributed with 3/26 from his 4 overs!
Come the chase, it was a disaster start for the Melbourne Renegades, as Michael Neser ran through the top order, picking up a hattrick on the way to restrict the Renegades to 23/4 after the powerplay. But with Russell and Finch at the crease, the Renegades always had a chance. The Big Man went onto score a scintillating 57 runs off 42 balls to take his team to a decent score of 90/5.
However, with Finch struggling at the other end, it was time for the X-Factor Akeal Hosein to display his batting prowess. The young southpaw smashed 30 runs off 19 deliveries to keep the chase going as Finch and Sutherland closed out the innings with striking blows of their own! Michael Neser ended up with the figures of 4/32 from his 4 overs but despite his best efforts the Melbourne Renegades managed to get over the line with 4 wickets remaining in the bank!
19.2 J Bazley to A Finch
4 FOUR!!!!! That's it Renegades have won the game!!!! Good length delivery angling into the batter, Finch makes room on the leg side and crunches it towards the deep covers region the ball runs away towards the fence for four runs.
19.1 J Bazley to A Finch
0 Good length delivery on the middle stump line, Finch comes down the track and tries to loft it over the bowler's head but gets beaten.
OVER 19
Melbourne Renegades
135/6
Will Sutherland
6(1)
Aaron Finch
27(41)
Mark Steketee
2-23(4.0)
GOODNESS GRACIOUS! That is a HUGE MAXIMUM off his first ball! Effectively seals the game for his team! 103 METERS!
18.6 M Steketee to W Sutherland
6 SIX!!!!!!!!! Sutherland hits it into the stands ohhhh wait!!!!! That went onto the roof,103m six, Renegades need 3 runs off 6 balls. Good length delivery angling into the batter, Sutherland clears his front leg and smokes it towards the deep mid-wicket region, the ball sails high up in the air and goes onto the roof.