The last round of the group stage of the Big Bash League 2013-14 kick-starts on Wednesday with a game between the Adelaide Strikers and the Melbourne Renegades and you can follow the scores live from 7.40pm AEDT.
On the one hand is a team which has a mathematical chance of qualifying for the semi-finals, while on the other is a side which will be playing only for pride here.
The Adelaide Strikers, with five points from seven games are all but out of the competition, while the Renegades have won only two games and the only thing they can expect out of a victory here is to pull themselves above the bottom-two position.
The scenario for the Strikers borders on the realms of impossible. Almost miraculous.
With the Hurricanes on five points and the Heat on six and with the two sides clashing against each other in their respective final game of the league stage, the Strikers’ goose is all but cooked.
If Heat win, they get to eight and irrespective of what happens in this Strikers-Renegades encounter, Adelaide won’t be able to catch up with them.
If the Hurricanes win, they will jump up to the fourth spot with seven points, something that the Strikers can get to if they beat the Renegades.
But it will then boil down to the net run-rates of the two sides, and with the Hurricanes at +0.039 and the Strikers on -1.089, it’s difficult to see how the gap can be filled up.
To give an idea on how difficult the Strikers’ task is, assume that despite winning the game, the Hurricanes’ NRR does not change much and the Strikers have to change their NRR to +0.04 – which is slightly more than Hurricanes’ +0.039.
In that case, if the Strikers bat first and score 200 in their 20 overs, they will need to bowl the Renegades out for 73 or less to register a better NRR. Chasing could get even tougher, with a target of 75 needed to be attained in less than four overs.
This, for a team, which has struggled throughout the competition, can be safely assumed to be an impossible scenario.
What both teams could be looking to play for is pride and a lot of it will be at stake given they haven’t had the best of the competition.
Expect a few changes from both sides in order to give their lesser known players a run before the close of the competition.
Join us for the Strikers v Renegades match in the Big Bash League 2013-14 on Wednesday and you can follow the live score of this game from 7.40 pm AEDT and post your comments below.
Big Ramifications
Guest
In my mixed indoor cricket team I tonk big sixes with impunity.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That's that then, end of another one, which did not really count for much as far as challenging the top four was concerned. Even if they won the Strikers did not have too much of a chance of qualifying and they have lost anyway. So where does that leave us? It's all down to the virtual quarter-final between the Hurricanes and Heat tomorrow which will decide the fourth semi-finalist behind the Stars, the Scorchers and the Sixers. That's it from me for tonight, I will be back in about a week's time for the BBL finals and the T20I series between Australia and England. But the live coverage of cricket will continue on the site, so do please keep tuning it! Sayonara!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Neser ends unbeaten on 35 from 24 but it's a good innings in a lost cause. Both Renegades and Strikers are out of the competition with Renegades ending on six points while Adelaide on five.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Swung away and they will be getting only two runs off the last ball to long-on... ...which means that the Renegades have won by a close margin of one run!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And just a single off the penultimate ball which means that Richardson's on strike and they need four for a win!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Shot! What a shot! Very full from Bravo and Neser was expecting that and went right back, flicked it wrists and times it over square-leg for a four... ...that's five needed from 2
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Superb yorker-length ball but gets some bat on it and come back for two, Neser. 9 needed from 3.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
In his slot and smacked but straight to the long-on fielder for a single. 11 needed from 4.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Wow, that's sliced it over the off side for a couple. It was an attempted slog and sliced over the covers. 12 needed from 5.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
This is going to be tough. Bravo will bowl the last over with Strikers needing 14 for a win. Richardson will be on strike and there's always an option of the Super Over.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Neser was looking to lap it down to fine-leg, then he wanted to scoop it over the keeper before deciding to guide it to third-man. None those attempted strokes got him even a touch on bat! And then he gets a four off a yorker! Full length and he digs it out but feathers just to the fine-leg for a four. 14 needed from six!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
21 needed from and Rimmington takes up the attack... ...spanked down the ground for a single. 20 needed from 11
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Siddle's done with his spell, which means he ends with figures of 3/35 in 4.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Wow, he's pulled it off the front foot! Short of length from Siddle and he was going down the track, was Neser and smashes it through mid-wicket for a four. A single next ball follows. 22 from 13 needed
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Ludeman is gone, top-edged off Siddle and easily taken on the leg-side... ...seven down and Siddle's gotten his third wicket here. 27 needed from 16 now.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
They have done well to play out Murali, just four singles in that last over of his which means he ends with figures of 2/16 in his four. Superb stuff there. 27 needed from 18.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A sharply turning offie is defended back to the bowler by Ludeman. Off the next, he tucks it to fine-leg for a single, which means they need 29 from 21.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Murali will bowl the 17th and a single to long-on first ball. 30 from 23 needed.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Wow, well run that from Ludeman and Neser. Smacked to the wide long-on region for which they come back well for the second. 31 needed from 24, four wickets standing.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The Strikers are looking to make a match out of this one, the stand's worth 31 already after those three fell for nothing. Bravo's come back for his third and five from the first four balls. That's already more than what Bravo gave in his first two overs. 6/123 in 15.5