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A late-match cameo from Dwayne Bravo saw the Melbourne Renegades win their first fixture of the year, against the Brisbane Heat.
After making 180 in the first innings the Brisbane Heat may have felt this could be a bright start to their season. They had several batters contribute to their formidable total of 180, with the likes of Chris Lynn, Lendl Simmons, Nathan Reardon, James Hopes and Ben Cutting all making good contributions.
But they started their innings slowly while for the other side an impressive, albeit brief, display of powerful hitting from Chris Gayle ensured the Renegades started their innings brightly. When he departed on 23 the game was in the balance.
It took well timed partnership between Cam White and Aaron Finch to tip that balance, both batters ending with fifties and both playing innings that their team needed to win.
Samuel Badree was the pick of the bowlers for the Heat, and constantly put the pressure back on the Renegades. If he was able to bowl more than his allotted four overs it may have been a different story.
Though in the end his work was in vain as some sensational hitting by Matthew Wade and Dwayne Bravo in particular, after Andrew Fekete had dismissed Finch and White with back-to-back deliveries, ensured that the Renegades would take a vital win.
Final score
Brisbane Heat 5/180
Melbourne Renegades 3/184
After disappointing tournaments last season, both the Brisbane Heat and the Melbourne Renegades will hope some fresh faces result in a more prosperous Big Bash, starting with their opening clash at the Gabba. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 6:55pm (AEDT).
The 2012-13 season was the best both the Renegades and the Heat have enjoyed in the tournament’s brief but eventful history. The Renegades led the charge to finish as table toppers, while the Heat ended champions after finishing fourth and defeating the Renegades in the semi-final.
Since that season both sides have failed to get back in the finals, the Renegades finishing sixth in the last two installments, the Heat finishing fifth in the 2013-14 season before slumping to last in the 2014-15 season.
The Heat’s torrid previous season, which saw them on one occasion collapse for just 80 in a loss to the Renegades, also led to the resignation of Stuart Law as coach and James Hopes as captain. They will now be coached by former Heat player Daniel Vettori, and captained by their leading run-scorer last season, Chris Lynn.
But even with the dramatic alterations to the side’s hierarchy, the biggest change for the team may well be the signing of Samuel Badree.
Badree may not be the marketing force that his West Indian counterparts situated at the Renegades are, but his staggering T20 record makes his signing a great coup for the Heat. With over 100 T20 wickets at an average of 18.42 and an economy rate of just 5.25, Badree will have a huge part to play in the Heat’s season and is a likely candidate to finish atop of the wicket-takers’ chart.
Along with the rest of the Heats bowling line up, Badree will need to be close to his best on Saturday as his side will have the considerable task of tying down a potentially destructive Renegades batting line up.
That line up begins with one of the most intimidating opening partneships in T20 cricket, with Chris Gayle and Aaron Finch set to take on the new ball.
Despite Callum Ferguson being ruled out for the season after tearing his ACL, the Renegades still have a powerful middle order than includes the like of Dwayne Bravo, Cameron White, Matthew Wade and Tom Cooper.
If this batting line-up performs close to their full potential the Renegades are likely to enjoy a very strong season.
Prediction
Both sides have made some good choices in terms of recruitment, but the Renegades’ overall depth in quality means they are not just the most likely victors when the two sides meet, but also the more likely to have a successful season.
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