MELBOURNE Renegades fell short of a rebound finals run, but showed marked improvement and played an exciting brand of cricket throughout their BBL|14 campaign. Having momentarily moved into fourth after their final home-and-away game, the men in red were made to settle for sixth spot.

>> STATS RECAP: Scorchers pair complete golden season

BY THE NUMBERS

RECORD: 6th | 4 wins, 6 losses | 0.139 net run rate
MOST RUNS: Tim Seifert | 200 @ 22.22 | 122.69 SR | 55 HS
MOST WICKETS: Tom Rogers | 16 @ 19.12 | 8.42 economy | 3-22 BB

RESULTS

LOSS @ Sydney Sixers by 5 wickets
WIN vs. Hobart Hurricanes by 6 wickets
WIN vs. Perth Scorchers by 2 wickets
LOSS @ Sydney Thunder by 8 runs
LOSS vs. Adelaide Strikers by 5 wickets
LOSS @ Melbourne Stars by 5 wickets
WIN @ Perth Scorchers by 4 wickets
LOSS vs. Melbourne Stars by 42 runs
LOSS @ Hobart Hurricanes by 4 wickets
WIN vs. Brisbane Heat by 3 wickets

THE STORY

After being outclassed by a seasoned Sydney Sixers side in game one, the Renegades rallied to win their next two games on the trot. One of them was a six-wicket thumping of eventual champions, Hobart Hurricanes, who they bowled out for just 74. Three-straight losses followed before the men in red rebounded by beating Perth Scorchers for a second time, though another Melbourne derby defeat and revenge served by the Hurricanes put them bottom of the pecking order. The Renegades finished on a high by ending Brisbane Heat’s title reign and momentarily moving into fourth.

THE HIGHLIGHT

One win stands head and shoulders above the rest for the Renegades, that being their first of the season. Having dropped game one from a strong position, Geelong played host to a game against the Hurricanes, and Melbourne stunned the eventual champions by dismissing them for just 74. They were 8-40 at one stage, with Will Sutherland (3-14), Fergus O’Neill (3-16), and Tom Rogers (3-25) doing the damage. Tim Seifert‘s unbeaten 37 led the successful chase, which was completed in nine overs.

THE LOWLIGHT

After dropping a thrilling derby to the Stars with two balls remaining back on January 4, the Renegades’ second defeat to their local rivals proved a hammer blow. The return leg at Marvel Stadium came in the midst of the Stars’ revival, with Glenn Maxwell blasting 90 off 52 balls to pull his side back from 7-75 to a 165-run total. The Renegades hardly got close, posting just 123 as Mark Steketee (5-17) ripped through the top order. The result saw the Renegades go 3-5 in a hammer blow to their finals hopes.

THE STAR

Bowling spearhead Tom Rogers was the Renegades’ most reliable and consistent figure this season, collecting the second-most wickets in the tournament with 16. He bagged wickets in nine of 10 games, with his best figures of 3-22 coming in the thumping win over his former side, Hobart. Rogers also added handy lower-order runs, including an unbeaten 49 off 31 balls to help get his side over the line on the road against Perth. That was one of three Player of the Match performances from the 30-year-old.

TOP KNOCK

Jake Fraser-McGurk – 95 (46) vs. Brisbane Heat @ Marvel Stadium

Emerging star Jake Fraser-McGurk saved his best knock for last, hammering the Brisbane Heat to all parts of Marvel Stadium. Having otherwise compiled a subdued season, with a previous high score of 26 runs, the 22-year-old spearheaded his side to a crucial final day victory on the back of eight sixes and five fours. While he fell short of a remarkable century, Fraser-McGurk’s feats put the Renegades in the box seat for victory, leaving 16 runs to get off the last 21 deliveries. That’s what he can do.

BEST BOWLING

Will Sutherland – 3-14 (3) vs. Hobart Hurricanes @ GMHBA Stadium

Renegades captain Will Sutherland was central to arguably his side’s most emphatic victory of the season, claiming figures of 3-14 in just three overs against the Hurricanes. Along with Tom Rogers and Fergus O’Neill, who also claimed three wickets apiece, the ‘Chief’ dismantled Hobart in a 74-run total down in Geelong. He removed West Indies international Shai Hope (13), top-scorer Nathan Ellis (35), and Riley Meredith (0) to follow through on the early damage his counterparts dealt.

CONTRACT STATUS

SIGNED: Jason Behrendorff, Josh Brown, Harry Dixon, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Nathan Lyon, Fergus O’Neill, Tom Rogers, Tim Seifert, Will Sutherland, Adam Zampa

FREE AGENTS: Xavier Crone, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Kane Richardson, Gurinder Sandhu, Jon Wells

UNCONTRACTED: Jacob Bethell, Laurie Evans, Hassan Khan, Tawanda Muyeye, Sam Elliott, Ollie Peake, Callum Stow

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