A MEMORABLE weekend of Big Bash League (BBL) cricket was capped off on Sunday night by a vintage Aaron Finch performance. The legendary white ball performer dragged his Melbourne Renegades over the line at Marvel Stadium, notching 70* (43) to chase down the Sydney Thunder’s total with a ball to spare.

Last year’s wooden spooner now moves to 2-0 in BBL|12, having also downed the Brisbane Heat on Thursday. Though digs from competition leading run scorer Nic Maddinson (39 off 28) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (24 off 18) helped form the Renegades’ chase, it looked in peril once Andre Russell was dismissed at 5-127 in the 17th over.

Cue Finch’s heroics, as the set batter recognised the situation and proceeded to smack 15 off the next four Daniel Sams (3-33) deliveries. Not only did he wrestle back the ascendancy, but he also brought up his half-century. Gurinder Sandhu (2-51) was handed responsibility for the final over and repaid the faith with a wicket up front, but could not contain Finch who hunted down the 10 runs required.

Earlier, South African recruit Rilee Rossouw notched 53 (38) to spearhead the Thunder’s innings. The visitors looked in trouble after falling to 4-57 approaching the halfway mark, before being buoyed by contributions from Rossouw, Alex Ross (39 off 23) and Oliver Davies (33* off 18).

The total of 6-174 made for a stark improvement on the Thunder’s effort of 15 on Friday, but was still not quite enough to pick up a second win for the season. Further compounding the loss was a shoulder injury to skipper Jason Sangha, who was supported off the ground after landing heavily on a diving attempt in the field.

Tonight’s BBL action sees the Hobart Hurricanes and Perth Scorchers meet at UTAS Stadium in Launceston, with the home side chasing its first points of the new season. The Renegades next face a rematch with Brisbane on Wednesday, while the Thunder take on Adelaide away, tomorrow.

SCORECARD

RESULT: Melbourne Renegades (6-175) def. Sydney Thunder (6-174) by 4 wickets
POTM: Aaron Finch (Melbourne Renegades)
TOSS: Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to bat

KEY PLAYERS

Melbourne Renegades:
Tom Rogers 2-41, Akeal Hosein 1-22 (3), Kane Richardson 1-25
Aaron Finch 70* (43), Nic Maddinson 39 (28), Jake Fraser-McGurk 24 (18)

Sydney Thunder:
Rilee Rossouw 53 (38), Alex Ross 39 (23), Oliver Davies 33* (18)
Daniel Sams 3-33, Gurinder Sandhu 2-51 (3.5), Brendan Doggett 1-29

WEEKEND WRAP

Though somewhat overshadowed by the result which followed, Joe Clarke notched a terrific unbeaten century to set up the Melbourne Stars’ 38-run win over the Hobart Hurricanes. The English keeper-batsman was duly named player of the match as his side defended 183 at the MCG on Friday.

The Stars top-order strung together partnerships of over 50 for the first two wickets, with contributions from Beau Webster (24 off 22), Tom Rogers (20 off 13), and Hilton Cartwright (17 off 13) helping form a formidable total.

Paceman Riley Meredith (2-38) was the only Hurricanes bowler to snare multiple wickets, though an economic effort from Paddy Dooley (1-27) made him the pick of the bunch alongside tweaker Shadab Khan (1-29).

In response, the Hurricanes fell victim to consistent wickets throughout their innings, with a number of batters getting starts. Skipper Matthew Wade top-scored with a run-a-ball 35, followed by Tim David‘s 24 (17).

Englishman Luke Wood bounced back from a disappointing first-up showing to snare 3-25 off his four overs, as Stars captain Adam Zampa achieved similar figures of 3-27. In an economical and targeted overall bowling effort, Nathan Coulter-Nile (2-24) and Beau Webster (0-21) also chimed in.

Despite the Stars’ impressive team performance, the Sydney Thunder’s capitulation at the hands of Adelaide was the talking point out of Friday night’s action. In the lowest-ever men’s T20 total, the Thunder were skittled for just 15 in 5.5 overs.

The batting capitulation, which was riddled with loose shots, made for a 124-run loss at Sydney Showground Stadium. Five Thunder batters were dismissed without scoring, with seven caught behind the wicket.

In a near-flawless fielding performance, Harry Nielsen gloved five catches and Matt Short grabbed a couple of screamers to go with his opening over wicket. Henry Thornton was the best of the bowlers though, claiming ridiculous figures of 5-3 (2.5) alongside Wes Agar‘s 4-6 (2).

Earlier, Adelaide’s solid total of 9-139 looked entirely gettable. Having won the toss and elected to bat, the Strikers pushed past a run-a-ball across their full allotment of overs, with top scores from recruits Chris Lynn (36 off 27) and Colin de Grandhomme (33 off 24). It proved more than enough in the end.

After Friday’s double-header, it was back to a standalone game per day as the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers locked horns at Perth Stadium. The home side came away victorious to the tune of 38 runs, defending 155 largely thanks to a spectacular 4-9 from paceman Jhye Richardson.

The Scorchers won the toss and unleashed their imported opening partnership of Adam Lyth and Faf du Plessis, but it was Aaron Hardie who proved the key man. Coming in at six, he lifted his side from 5-49 to 6-120 en route to a match-best knock of 55 (32).

Jackson Bird (3-26) led a six-man bowling unit for Sydney, with Izharulhaq Naveed (2-22) the only other Sixer to nab more than one wicket. Importantly, one was that of Hardie. Their efforts were shadowed by Richardson though, while Andrew Tye and Jason Behrendorff each snared two poles in the Scorchers’ bowling innings.

Only two Sixers batters edged into double digits, and both reached the 40-mark. Jordan Silk (41 off 32) and Hayden Kerr (42 off 35) offered some resistance in the middle order, but ultimately fell as Sydney fell all out for 117 off the full 20 overs.