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.
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.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Well done 'Gades. Been watching with Bowie on MMM in the background.
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
The Thunder have now lost four on the trot and after appearing to be the competition's title favourites, they now sit in 5th position and could miss out on making their first BBL semi-finals appearance. A groin injury to Jacques Kallis is not ideal. The Renegades on the other hand are now right in the mix for finals, yet they will still need to defeat league leaders the Strikers next Monday to stay in the hunt. A 91-run partnership between skipper Cameron White and Dwayne Bravo was the game changer tonight.
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
Cameron White (61) is the Man of the Match after an outstanding performance with the bat.
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
FINAL Sydney Thunder 5/173 U.Khawaja 62 (42) S.Watson 62 (43) D.Bravo 2/26 (4) Melbourne Renegades 5/176 C. White 61 (46) D.Bravo 47 (24) A.Russell 2/42 (4)
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
MELBOURNE RENEGADES WIN BY 5 WICKETS Terrific game of cricket.
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
FOUR! GAME OVER Nevill smacks a full delivery straight down the ground and it beats the fielder at mid-off.
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
SINGLE Mcdermott works one off his pads to mid-wicket and scurries through for a single. Nevill on strike now 2 Required off 5 Balls
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
Watson to bowl the final over.
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
19th over Complete Melbourne Renegades: 5/171 3 Required off 6 Balls Who Wins?
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
Young Ben McDermott; Son of Aussie quick Craig McDermott, comes to the crease in his BBL debut.
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
RUN OUT! Nevill misses a slower ball outside off, yet Beaton calls him through for the run. Hartley picks the ball up and rolls it into the stumps. Great Keeping!! Game is still alive!!
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
Beaton struggling to pick the McKay slower ball.
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
Dot ball from McKay
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
FOUR! McKay comes back into the attack and Beaton smacks him down the ground. Full and straight delivery.
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
18th over Complete Melbourne Renegades: 4/164 10 Required from 12 Balls
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
WICKET! The Polar Bear top edges it and spoons it up. Benny Rohrer comes in and takes a simple catch. CL White c Rohrer b Russell 61 The Renegades are making a mess of it.
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
FREE HIT! Beaton misses out on an opportunity there. Just a single
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
WICKET! Slower ball from Russell. Bravo gets a thick top edge that lobs up. Russell sprints forward and plucks it. DJ Bravo c & b Russell 47
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
SIX! Two in a row for Bravo. This time it was a full and wide delivery outside off from Russell and Bravo gets a thick outside edge and it races over the third man boundary.
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
SIX! Bravo smokes the ball that time! Russell puts it right in the slot and Bravo hoiks it over the midwicket boundary.