REIGNING Big Bash League (BBL) champions, Perth Scorchers have secured their spot in the BBL|12 qualifier with a 10-run win over the Melbourne Renegades on Sunday night. Batting first at Perth Stadium, the home side posted a formidable total of 5-212, spearheaded by player of the match Cameron Bancroft (95*), before holding on in the face of an Aaron Finch-inspired chase.

Bancroft’s unbeaten dig wasn’t without its trials, as the opener was struck in the ribs by an errant Tom Moody beamer, before the paceman was swiftly forced out of the attack for another above-the-waist full toss. Though for Bancroft’s feats, the Scorchers’ hot start could not have been done without Stephen Eskinazi (54 off 29), who blasted the victors to a season-best powerplay of 0-62.

His dismissal, at the hand of West Australian tweaker Corey Rocchiccioli, came with 87 runs on the board against the Moody-less Renegades attack. No travelling bowler went at under eight per over, though Will Sutherland plucked a remarkable catch to hand Tom Rogers his lone wicket of the inning. Rocchiccioli and Matthew Critchley snared two poles apiece.

The Renegades’ chase started with steady momentum as experienced internationals Shaun Marsh and Martin Guptill combined for a 58-run opening stand, with the former going on to notch 54 (34). Though, things looked relatively dire when the finals hopefuls fell to 4-96 past the halfway mark, and even more so as the required runs sat at 68 with just three overs in hand.

Cue late Finch fireworks, which rattled the fielding side and saw Andrew Tye battered for 31 off his final set of six, for figures of 1-63. The Renegades stalwart ended up on 76 not out off 35 deliveries, but could not maintain quite enough of the strike in the dying stages as his side fell short, but crept over the 200-mark five wickets down.

The result means Perth will host the qualifier at Perth Stadium against the Sydney Sixers in another rematch of last season’s decider. Matthew Kelly (concussion) may be unavailable after being struck in the face with the ball in a freak incident. Meanwhile, fourth-placed Melbourne will look to cement its finals spot on Tuesday in a clash against the Adelaide Strikers.

SCORECARD

RESULT: Perth Scorchers (5-212) def. Melbourne Renegades (5-202) by 10 runs
POTM: Cameron Bancroft (Perth Scorchers)
TOSS: Melbourne Renegades won the toss and opted to bowl

KEY PLAYERS

Perth Scorchers:
Cameron Bancroft 95* (50), Stephen Eskinazi 54 (29)
Ashton Turner 2-25 (3), David Payne 1-31 (4)

Melbourne Renegades:
Aaron Finch 76* (35), Shaun Marsh 54 (34), Will Sutherland 30 (18)
Matthew Critchley 2-34, Corey Rocchiccioli 2-42

HEAT HOLD ON TO JUMP INTO THIRD

IN Sunday’s earlier game, the Brisbane Heat rose into third spot on the BBL ladder with a tense four-run win over the Melbourne Stars. Just a couple of days removed from keeping the Hobart Hurricanes at bay, left-arm seamer Spencer Johnson (0-38) was again at the centre of Brisbane’s win as he defended 14 off the final over with Marcus Stoinis (36*) and Hilton Cartwright (33*) at the crease.

The left-arm seamer conceded nine runs off his fourth set of six, coming up clutch as the home side defended its total of 4-188. Each of the Stars batters got a start as the entire top five ticked over 25 runs, fronted by urgent opener Tom Rogers (41 off 20) and his partner Joe Clarke (31 off 32). Despite having plenty of wickets in hand, the run rate proved a bridge too far for the wooden spooners.

Remarkably, both Stoinis and Cartwright were caught off waist-high no-balls and gave the Stars a sniff across the last three overs as the chase went down to the wire. Johnson’s well placed yorker off the final delivery denied Stoinis a heroic ending though, helping the Heat all but confirm its postseason place. Leg-spinner Mitch Swepson was best with the ball, taking two of three wickets at under six per over.

Earlier, a 133-run stand between player of the match Sam Hain (73* off 41) and Jimmy Peirson (57* off 43) proved definitive as the Heat built their big total. Only Usman Khawaja (24) cracked double-digits among Brisbane’s top four, leaving Hain and Peirson to steady the ship after falling to 4-55 in the seventh over.

Luke Wood snared a pair of poles for the Stars, though economical contributions from Nathan Coulter-Nile (1-29) and Beau Webster (0-21) also came in handy. While the Stars have faltered to bottom spot with one game left to play, the Heat’s late-season run sees them in contention to finish third should they get over the Hobart Hurricanes on Wednesday.

SCORECARD

RESULT: Brisbane Heat (4-188) def. Melbourne Stars (3-184)
POTM: Sam Hain (Brisbane Heat)
TOSS: Brisbane Heat won the toss and opted to bat

KEY PLAYERS

Brisbane Heat:
Sam Hain 73* (41), Jimmy Peirson 57* (43)
Mitch Swepson 2-23, James Bazley 1-15 (2)

Melbourne Stars:
Tom Rogers 41* (20), Marcus Stoinis 36* (23), Hilton Cartwright 33* (24)
Luke Wood 2-38, Nathan Coulter-Nile 1-29