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Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades highlights: BBL scores, blog

11th January, 2016
Where: Spotless Stadium
When: 7:40pm AEDT
TV: Channel Ten, live
Betting: Thunder $1.64, Renegades $2.27
Cam White. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Roar Guru
11th January, 2016
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4099 Reads

The Melbourne Renegades will travel to Spotless Stadium for the first time on Monday evening as they take on the out-of-form Sydney Thunder in a do-or-die Round 7 fixture. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:40pm (AEDT).

After looking unbeatable three games into the competition, the Thunder have hit a major form slump, losing three on the trot and suddenly being on the verge of missing finals.

In their last game they were annihilated by 30 runs against the Perth Scorchers, with serious concerns starting to mount over the form and fitness of a number of their batsmen.

The Renegades’ season is virtually over after losing their sixth consecutive Melbourne Derby at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, two massive victories are now required for them to stand any chance at all.

Test batsman Usman Khawaja returns for the Thunder following the completion of the West Indian series. His last appearance in green yielded an unbeaten 109 runs off just 70 runs as the Thunder defeated the Stars in a thriller.

Veteran pace bowler Clint McKay continues his resurgence in the shortest format if the game, taking 10 wickets at an economy of 7.50 and consistently being used as the Thunder’s specialist death bowler.

He and lively international signing Andre Russell (11 wickets) have been two of the competition’s best bowlers and may give the Renegades batsmen a headache at Spotless Stadium.

Everything went wrong for the Renegades on Saturday night as they were comprehensively beaten by their arch rivals the Stars.

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The Renegades were poor in the field, poor with the bat early and once again struggled with the ball. The bowling department remains the biggest concern for the Renegades, they’ve taken a grand total of just 21 wickets in six games.

West-Indian all-rounder ‘DJ’ Dwayne Bravo has been the Renegades’ best performer of the BBL, with his 154 runs at an average of 77 (four not outs). His form with the ball hasn’t been great of late, yet he has a bag of tricks and may just whip out his dipping slower ball once again against the Thunder.

These two sides have met one another on four occasions and the Renegades currently have the upper hand with three victories to the Thunder’s one. Last year’s dour fixture saw the Thunder make just 114 off their 20 overs, as Andre Russell lead the way with the ball (2/20) – ironically for the Renegades.

Can the Thunder claim their first win of 2016 or will the Renegades cause an upset of sorts and keep their slim finals hopes alive?

Prediction
The Thunder should prove to be too strong at home as they look to snap their three game losing streak.

Join The Roar for live scores and updates on the season-defining Thunder versus Renegades match from 7pm (AEDT).

If you are following the action live, be sure to share your thoughts on the match in the comments below.

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