BBL: Adelaide Strikers Vs Melbourne Renegades

Back-to-back Big Bash last-place finishers the Melbourne Renegades opened their season with a stunning victory over the Adelaide Strikers, defending their total of 9-153 in a final-ball win after a hugely entertaining clash. Batting first, the Renegades looked set for a strong target only to lose six wickets for nine runs in a horrific collapse at the close of their innings.

Matt Short got the Strikers’ chase off to a red-hot start, smashing two sixes onto the second-tier of seating at Marvel Stadium. Then a freakish catch from Melbourne Renegades’ young gun Jake Fraser-McGurk left the cricket world in awe, before some superb bowling from James Pattinson at the death – with a wicket and four runs off the final over – sealed the shock result.

19-year-old Fraser-McGurk took one of the best catches the BBL has ever seen to dismiss super star Jake Weatherald for only 18 runs. The batsmen flew high and plucked the ball out of the air, hanging for what seemed like seconds before landing safely in the field of play. That is as good athletics as you will see on a cricket field,” Brad Haddin said. “Everything has to go right, the timing, he takes off of one leg, look at that, takes off his left leg, perfect timing, takes it behind him. Melbourne Renegades played exceptionally in this match.

Strikers batter Ryan Gibson unfortunately went down with a hamstring injury at a key moment, hampering Adelaide’s chances of chasing down the total. But a handy power surge, scoring 24 in the two overs, clawed the side back into contention and set up a thrilling finish. In the last over, the Strikers needed 9 runs, with James Pattinson called upon to close the game out. Two dots and a wicket in the first three deliveries made it an insurmountable task for the Strikers, handing the Melbourne Renegades the win by two runs.

Zahir Khan was the pick of the Melbourne Renegades bowling unit with 3-24 off four overs, while Will Sutherland had 2-13 off two overs and Pattinson 1-27 off four overs – but that wicket came in a simply sensational final over. The Renegades started brightly thanks to young openers Sam Harper and Mackenzie Harvey, who put on 65 runs before Harper (33 off 28) was caught and bowled by part-time spinner Matt Short.

Fraser-McGurk arrived at the crease to big wraps from the comentary team, with Alyssa Healy likening the batsmen to Australian T20 star Glenn Maxwell. In strides mini Maxwell, young Fraser-McGurk who looks just like Maxwell when he’s out on the crease,” Healy explained. “If he can do half the damage that Maxi does he will do a great job for the Melbourne Renegades.” They finished with 9/153.Worral (2/26) and George Garton (2-23) led the way for the Strikers, while Peter Siddle’s figures were relatively costly at 42 runs for three wickets, but can be excused as he bowled during the Power Surge.

He added just eight runs before falling to veteran quick Peter Siddle, who was on the receiving end of a first-ball six from 29-year-old debutant James Seymour. Harvey was finally bowled by Rashid Khan for 56 off 46, leaving the Renegades 3-114 three quarters of the way through their innings. Seymour added 23 off 14 in a stellar debut, with the Renegades looking in control before a massive late collapse. Seymour fell to Dan Worrall in the 18th over, with the Melbourne Renegades 3-142. That was the first of six wickets in twelve balls, picking up just nine runs in the process.

Strikers XI: Jake Weatherald, Matt Short, Harry Nielsen (wk), Jonathan Wells, Ryan Gibson, Daniel Drew, George Garton, Rashid Khan, Daniel Worrall, Wes Agar, Peter Siddle (c) Renegades XI: Mackenzie Harvey, Sam Harper (wk), Jake Fraser-McGurk, James Seymour, Jonathan Merlo, Mohammad Nabi, Will Sutherland, James Pattinson, Kane Richardson (c), Reece Topley, Zahir Khan