PERTH Scorchers have at least momentarily claimed a Big Bash finals spot after snatching fourth place off the Melbourne Renegades with a five-wicket win over Adelaide Strikers at Perth Stadium last night. The Scorchers will now sweat on Hobart beating the Stars tonight to confirm their postseason status.

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Young gun Cooper Connolly steered the home side to victory with an unbeaten 39 off 21, belting consecutive sixes to surpass Adelaide’s 161 total with 22 deliveries remaining. In reality, the job was done with 10 balls to spare so as to make up the required net run rate and jump the Renegades into fourth.

Perth needed to chase the target within 18 overs, while the Strikers had to win and restrict their opponents to less than 146. Constant wickets proved the bane of both teams, though Connolly and the Scorchers rode the bumps best.

Just as Adelaide began to squeeze, the allrounder broke a streak of 34 balls without a boundary heading into the Power Surge, where Perth added 1-31 to soar towards parity. The Strikers’ dream was ended in the 16th over before the Scorchers made theirs a reality.

Having been sent in to bat, the Strikers made a fast start through keeper Alex Carey (22 off 7), who was promoted to opener. His partner and captain Matt Short carried on the all-out attack for 40 off 21 before falling to the golden arm of Connolly, via a terrific Finn Allen stumping.

The Strikers posted 2-56 in the Power Play and were 4-101 at halfway, though the flow of runs was held back by constant wickets. Liam Scott proved the mainstay, notching up his maiden BBL half-century to finish with 67 off 43. Adelaide lost its last four wickets for just six runs to be bowled out in 19.1 overs.

Player of the Match Jason Behrendorff bowled the tough overs and claimed 3-21, while emerging quick Mahli Beardman popped up with 3-17. Lance Morris (2-56) was expensive but also managed to break through along with Connolly (1-15) and Ashton Agar (1-19).

In the Scorchers’ batting innings, Sam Fanning (29 off 20) combined well with Aaron Hardie (28 off 17) before being needlessly run out. The likes of Ashton Turner (21 off 18) and Nick Hobson (15 off 9) also made starts to contribute to the victory.

Remarkably, the clash between seventh and eighth saw Perth leapfrog four other teams while the Strikers finish the season in last spot. The result shattered the Melbourne Renegades’ hopes of holding onto fourth, after they ended Brisbane Heat’s title defence at Marvel Stadium earlier on Saturday.

Jake Fraser-McGurk starred in the Renegades’ successful chase of Brisbane’s 4-196, clubbing a new personal best BBL score of 95 (46) at first drop. After being 11 off 12, the young man nicknamed ‘Rooster’ clicked into gear to post his first and only score over 30 for the season.

He was brought together with usual opening partner Josh Brown in the third over, with the latter clobbering 32 off 11 to contribute to a 45-run Power Play. Fraser-McGurk did most of his work alongside 19-year-old debutant Oliver Peake (19 off 21), who was controlled and fed him the strike nicely.

The pair combined for 84 off 47 deliveries, though Peake’s dismissal sparked a shift in momentum mid-innings. Having posted 2-108 at halfway, the Power Surge was taken and yielded 24 runs, but at the cost of Peake and Tim Seifert for a golden duck. Spencer Johnson (2-41) did the damage.

16 runs were required off the last 21 balls when Fraser-McGurk departed to a brilliant Matt Renshaw catch in the deep, and the Renegades stood on shaky legs when skipper Will Sutherland was also sent packing in the same Paul Walter (2-23) over.

Going hard to accrue enough net run rate, Fergus O’Neill proved his value with the bat to finish unbeaten on 16 (6), sealing the victory by clearing and finding the rope in consecutive deliveries. The result saw Melbourne momentarily jump to fourth, pending the Scorchers-Strikers result.

Another outcome of the match was the guarantee of a new BBL champion, with 2023/24 title holders Brisbane bowing out of the race. The Heat put up a fight, with opener Jack Wood (45 off 27) and keeper Tom Alsop (42* off 26) helping bookend a considerable total.

Ill discipline, or perhaps over-umpiring depending on who you ask, very much cost the Renegades. Sutherland and O’Neill missed out on bowling seven and nine balls respectively after being forced out of the attack for following through onto the pitch.

The ruling meant Brown was made to complete their unfinished overs and take on two of his own, finishing with figures of 0-48. Crucially, he bowled the final set of six and leaked 17 runs, though Sutherland (0-43) also struggled having twice been hit for three-consecutive sixes.

On the other end of the scale, spin proved a winner for the home side. Adam Zampa (2-29) and Callum Stow (2-31) combined to take all of the Renegades’ wickets, while Tom Rogers (0-25) was economical but conceded the Golden Arm award to Perth’s Behrendorff (17 wickets).

SCORECARDS

Melbourne Renegades vs. Brisbane Heat:

RESULT: Renegades won by 3 wickets with 12 balls remaining.
POTM: Jake Fraser-McGurk (Melbourne Renegades)
BAT FLIP: Renegades won and elected to bowl.

Brisbane Heat 4-196 (20)
Jack Wood 45 (27), Tom Alsop 42* (26), Matt Renshaw 40 (22)
Adam Zampa 2-29 (4), Callum Stow 2-31 (4)

Melbourne Renegades 7-199 (18)
Jake Fraser-McGurk 95 (46), Josh Brown 32 (11), Oliver Peake 19 (21)
Paul Walter 2-23 (4), Michael Neser 2-38 (3), Spencer Johnson 2-41 (4)

Perth Scorchers vs. Adelaide Strikers:

RESULT: Scorchers won by 5 wickets with 22 balls remaining.
POTM: Jason Behrendorff (Perth Scorchers)
BAT FLIP: Scorchers won and elected to bowl.

Adelaide Strikers 10-161 (19.1)
Liam Scott 67 (43), Matt Short 40 (21), Alex Carey 22 (7)
Jason Behrendorff 3-21 (3.1), Mahli Beardman 3-17 (3), Lance Morris 2-56 (4)

STANDINGS

1. Hobart Hurricanes | 7-1, 1 NR | 15 points | 0.135 NRR
2. Sydney Sixers | 6-2, 2 NR | 14 points | 0.156 NRR
3. Sydney Thunder | 5-3, 2 NR | 12 points | 0.34 NRR
4. Perth Scorchers | 4-6 | 8 points | 0.219 NRR
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5. Melbourne Renegades | 4-6 | 8 points, 0.139 NRR
6. Melbourne Stars | 4-5 | 8 points | -0.073 NRR
7. Brisbane Heat | 3-6, 1 NR | 7 points | -0.831 NRR
8. Adelaide Strikers | 3-7 | 6 points | -0.122 NRR

REMAINING FIXTURE

Melbourne Stars vs. Hobart Hurricanes
Sunday January 19 @ MCG

FINALS SCHEDULE

Qualifier: 1st vs. 2nd | January 21
Knockout: 3rd vs. 4th | January 22
Challenger: Qualifier loser vs. Knockout winner | January 24
Final: Qualifier winner vs. Challenger winner | January 27