In a nail-biting encounter at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the Sydney Sixers defeated the Melbourne Renegades by four wickets with only three balls to spare to move up to second position on the table and keep their semi-final hopes alive. The Renegades suffered their second successive defeat of the league and are currently stand fifth with two wins and three defeats.
After electing to bat first, Melbourne Renegades Aaron Finch scored a brilliant knock of 57 from 44 deliveries and with some help from Tom Cooper and Callum Ferguson who scored 39 each, the Renegades put up a solid total of 170 for six in their 20 overs.
In reply, the Sydney Sixers started off brilliantly with some aggressive batting from openers Daniel Hughes and Michael Lumb. Hughes continued his good form, scoring 41 from 29 deliveries before being dismissed by Sunil Narine while Michael Lumb who replaced his compatriot Jason Roy in opening scored a brisk 31 off just 22 deliveries before being dismissed by Thisara Perera.
After the dismissal of both openers, Nic Maddinson and skipper Moises Henriques solidified the batting before were dismissed for scores of 26 and 30 respectively. However, veteran keeper Brad Haddin took the Sixers home with three balls to spare thanks to his 31 from just 23 deliveries which eventually earned him the Man of the Match award.Brief Scores: Melbourne Renegades- 170/6 in 20 overs (Aaron Finch-57, Ben Dwarshius- 35/3); Sydney Sixers- 171/4 in 19.3 overs (Daniel Hughes- 44, Brad Haddin- 31*, Michael Lumb-31, Thisara Perera- 26/2).
Result: Sydney Sixers win by six wickets
Here are some of the best moments of the match:
#5 Opening is not Sunil Narine’s cup of tea
When the Melbourne Renegades faced the Melbourne Stars last Sunday, skipper Aaron Finch made a jaw-dropping move by making Sunil Narine his opening partner. Narine began well, hitting two boundaries and a six before being dismissed by a brilliant Kevin Pietersen catch for 21.
However, in the matches that have followed, Narine hasn’t been able to do well as an opener as he scored 12 off 10 deliveries against the Melbourne Stars on Saturday before being dismissed by another Kevin Pietersen catch but he did hit a six during his short stay at the crease.
In today’s match, Narine began with a lucky boundary but struggled in the next two deliveries before being dismissed for just 4 after he was caught and bowled by Jackson Bird. Clearly, Narine hasn’t been able to completely adapt to the opening position and perhaps he should be removed as an opener and be sent to bat down the order as the Renegades would prefer somebody as an opener who can give a solid and steady start to the innings and can stay at least till the powerplay overs.
#4 Finch couldn’t fire during his most suitable time
Aaron Finch has been known for his aggressive batting which helps him give his team a solid and steady start to their batting. One of Finch’s biggest attributes which make him a brilliant T20 opener is his ability to take advantage of the fielding restrictions and strike during the powerplay overs.
In today’s match, Finch did make a brilliant knock of 57 from 44 balls which was his second fifty of the tournament. However, he could have scored more had he been given more strike during the powerplay overs and this could have changed the outcome of the match.
During the powerplay, Finch faced only six deliveries with Cameron White and Tom Cooper facing most of the remaining deliveries. Even though Finch accumulated plenty of runs, he couldn’t play the way he might have liked. This would be something the Renegades should think about when they play their next match of the competition as Finch can be extremely lethal during the powerplay overs.
#3 Finch: A man for all needs
Aaron Finch is gradually making his name in this season’s BBL through his strange tactics as a captain that included sending Sunil Narine to open the batting and bowling the final over of a match. However, in today’s match, Finch made another strange decision which sort of paid off.
Due to some rainfall during the twilight of the Melbourne Renegades’ batting, the ground was a little wet and the Renegades suffered a huge blow from the rain as their keeper Peter Nevill was hit on the head by a skidding throw during the tenth over of the Sixers’ run-chase. He was advised to leave the ground to undergo tests for concussion.
At this point, Finch donned the wicket-keeping gloves and in the very next delivery, Michael Lumb who was looking dangerous perished and it resulted in two new batsmen at the crease. Even though the Renegades lost the match, that dismissal of Lumb sure made the Sixers sweat during the run-chase.
#2 Ben Dwarshuis: A rising talent
The 22-year old Ben Dwarshuis has so far been having a brilliant league with the ball, having picked up nine wickets so far which puts him on par with Adelaide Strikers’ Chris Jordan for the second highest wicket-taker of the season.
Dwarshuis bowled his best spell of the tournament so far in today’s match as he picked up three wickets for 35 runs in his four overs. His wickets included those of Cameron White, Tom Cooper, and Thisara Perera; all three being power hitters of the ball.
Dwarshuis has been expensive during the league with his economy rate being 9.17 so far. However, he has the ability to take wickets at a prolific rate and if he can continue doing so then he might even get a call-up to the national team someday.
#1 The exciting finish and James Pattinson’s agony
After an economical 19th over from Thisara Perera who conceded only seven runs during that over, the Sixers needed nine to win off the final over. James Pattinson who was very expensive during his first two overs was given the responsibility to bowl the final over. The experienced Brad Haddin was on strike with Jordan Silk on the other end.
Pattinson began the over well with a dot ball but Haddin put the pressure back on the Renegades by cutting the very next delivery over point for four and the Sixers now needed five from four. The next delivery turned out to be the costliest delivery of the match as Pattinson stepped over the line, resulting in a no-ball and the batsmen ran two. The Sixers now needed just two from four balls.
However, there was more gloom for Pattinson as Haddin hit the free hit at long off where the ball was caught but the wicket did not count and the batsmen ran two and the match was over. If the Melbourne Renegades just fail to qualify for the semi-finals, then Pattinson will definitely be ruing this over.
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