10.30 pm So Michael Neser's hat-trick is in vain. His bowling is dimmed by Andre Russell's six onslaught followed by a superb finishing kick from his fellow West Indian Akeal Hosein as Melbourne Renegades complete the season sweep of Brisbane Heat to move to 3-0. Heat meanwhile have two losses from two games. On the bright side, they won't have to face the Renegades again this season, barring a rematch in the playoffs.
Andre Russell has been named Player of the Match: "Going down with a brand new ball under pressure, just one way: I back myself. And it happened tonight so I'm happy. [Asked about his six over the roof] I'm not accustomed to batting [against] the new ball. So my way of getting away from the pressure and put the pressure back on the bowler is actually just backing myself. It's good that you hit a bowler that just got successful wickets behind each other. Hitting him on the roof, it kind of allow him to ease back a bit off me so it was a good night for us tonight. [On his approach entering at 4 wickets down for 9 runs] Being in these situations a few times in my career, going out there just free-minded and don't think about it too much because sometimes you go out there as a batter and you try to be defensive, then something slides through the gate and you get out. I just told Finchy, 'Hey, I'm gonna see the first few deliveries what's going on and then I'm gonna just do my thing.' He was like, 'Do your thing big man.' So I got the guilt-free pass and I just go ahead. This is what it's all about. Being here for just four games, I want to leave these guys with four wins. It's more special when you contribute as well. The situation that the team was in and I basically get them back in the game and contribute big to get them over the line, it's a special night. So well done to the team. I think it was a total team effort as well."
That's it for tonight's live coverage. Come back tomorrow for more BBL action. Until then, I'm Peter Della Penna. Take care.
Aaron: "60 of Renegades runs have come in 6s, i wonder where that ranks in terms of highest percentage of a teams total." By comparison, there were only three sixes in the Heat innings compared to 10 by the Renegades. That's the difference tonight.
END OF OVER:19 | 12 Runs 1 Wkt | MR: 135/6 (3 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.10, RRR: 3.00)
- Will Sutherland6 (1b)
- Aaron Finch27 (41b)
- Mark Steketee4-0-23-2
- Mitchell Swepson4-0-32-0
Three runs needed off the final over now.
So Hosein falls just short of the finish line. Can Finch shepherd the tail over the line? Renegades are still showing 90.73% on the ESPNcricinfo win probability.
AJ Hosein c Billings b Steketee 30 (19b 2x4 2x6) SR: 157.89
Equation down to a run a ball now.
END OF OVER:18 | 17 Runs | MR: 123/5 (15 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.83, RRR: 7.50)
- Aaron Finch27 (41b)
- Akeal Hosein24 (14b)
- Mitchell Swepson4-0-32-0
- Matthew Kuhnemann4-0-19-0
Renegades win probability now at 93% after that six by Hosein.
That six has flipped the ESPNcricinfo win probability from 60% for the Heat to 66% for the Renegades.
Swepson back for his last over.
END OF OVER:17 | 6 Runs | MR: 106/5 (32 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.23, RRR: 10.66)
- Akeal Hosein15 (11b)
- Aaron Finch20 (38b)
- Matthew Kuhnemann4-0-19-0
- James Bazley3-0-24-0