In what will be a fight of two teams trying to keep their Big Bash League finals hopes alive, the Adelaide Strikers host the Melbourne Renegades at the Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the match from 7:40pm (AEDT).
Neither the Strikers or the Renegades have had anything near what would be considered a good season so far and as a result of having little form and inconsistency, sit at the bottom of the ladder.
Both sides have won two of their six games, with only net run rate pushing the Renegades ahead of the Strikers, but with even that in the negatives it’s nothing to write home about.
For the Renegades, it’s been three straight losses to send them spiralling down the ladder, but the worst part about that is how the Renegades have been in games and simply failed to close them out.
Some of the decisions from captain Aaron Finch have been baffling to say the least and no where was that more true then when they had a record score of 222 chased down by the Hobart Hurricanes on Thursday night.
Scoring 4 for 222 from their 20 overs, with Tom Cooper finally hitting his way into some form should have been enough runs in anyone’s book, but on a surface that had nothing for the bowlers, the Hurricanes recovered from 2 for nothing to win the game on the final ball.
Given the Hurricanes needed 16 runs from the final over, there was no way they should have got the job done – instead Thisara Perera was handed the ball when spinners had been the run restrictors all night and got smashed.
For the Strikers, it’s been a case of not having enough depth in their batting to power them towards anything of meaning.
While their bowlers have done a solid enough job, their batsmen, with the exception of Ben Dunk and Brad Hodge in the top order, have failed more often than not.
It’s left them short on runs and their bowlers having too much to do to salvage the situation. Their last outing against the Melbourne Stars epitomised their season, with an incredibly slow batting performance landing 152 before they let Ben Hilfenhaus smash a quick 30 to bring the Stars back from the brink of defeat.
Prediction
At home, the Strikers would normally go in as favourites, but their form just hasn’t been up to scratch. The Renegades batsmen, at least are in form and their spin options should get them over the line here.
Renegades in a close one.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this crucial Big Bash League match from 7:40pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to drop a comment in the section below.
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Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, thanks for joining me here on The Roar this evening for our live coverage of the 2016-17 Big Bash League as the Melbourne Renegades got the better of the Adelaide Strikers to keep their season alive. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Be sure to tune in tomorrow night as the Big Bash League continues with Kishan taking you through the Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars match. I'll be back on Wednesday for the Thunder vs Strikers. Before then, I'm live with Cycling and Tennis tomorrow. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Scott Pryde
Expert
Roarers, thoughts on the match?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Marcus Harris is man of the match.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Sodhi goes short and wide with Sodhi trying to send it down the ground. Skies it and it falls short. Pick up a single and the Renegades have won by 6 runs in Adelaide. The Renegades keep their season alive, the Strikers are done for the year with a game to play, becoming the first team to be out of finals contention. Melbourne Renegades - 9/171 (20) Adelaide Strikers - 8/165 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Brilliant fielding and the Strikers season is over! Sodhi has cracked it through mid wicket to a half volley and White comes around at full stretch to prevent the boundary. 8 off 1 and it's over. Just don't overstep or bowl a wide. Strikers - 8/164 (19.5) Renegades - 9/171 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Ben Laughlin in at 10 but at the non strikers end.
Scott Pryde
Expert
WICKET! Wes Agar, Caught Tom Cooper, Bowled Thisara Perera 8 (3) Short, slow and Agar goes big. Didn't get it clean though and Cooper comes in off the long on boundary to take the catch. 10 from 2 required. Strikers - 8/162 (19.4) Renegades - 9/171 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
FOUR Oh wow! Perera has pitched up and all of a sudden he has gone from jumping for joy to having deja vu. Inside edge and it flies past Finch for a boundary. Strikers - 7/162 (19.3) Renegades - 9/171 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
FOUR Short, wide and cracked over Tremain this time. Boundary. 14 off 4 required. Strikers - 7/158 (19.2) Renegades - 9/171 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wes Agar the new man.
Scott Pryde
Expert
WICKET! Jono Dean, Caught Chris Tremain (sub), Bowled Thisara Perera 21 (8) Dean has got all of this on a slower wide one, but cracked it straight off the middle to Tremain in the covers and he completes the catch. Strikers season probably walking off the ground here. Strikers - 7/154 (19.1) Renegades - 9/171 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Dean now moves right across the stumps to a full Narine ball and smacks it to deep mid wicket for a single. Didn't quite get it. 18 for the win, 17 for the super over. Remember, the Renegades conceded 16 from the last over the other night. Perera was the bowler then, and will be again tonight. Strikers - 6/154 (19) Renegades - 9/171 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Sodhi now makes good contact on a shorter one through mid wicket but didn't get the gap! Picks up another single and confusion on a second that they don't end up taking. Strikers - 6/153 (18.5) Renegades - 9/171 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Narine goes wide this time and Sodhi advances, not getting to it. Dot ball. Strikers - 6/152 (18.4) Renegades - 9/171 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Dean has tried to go big on another full one here but got the outside edge this time. Runs away towards the rope and Hogg chases to cut it to three. Strikers - 6/152 (18.3) Renegades - 9/171 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
SIX Are the Strikers going to find a way! Too full, too straight and a bit squarer for another six. Dean on fire Strikers - 6/149 (18.2) Renegades - 9/171 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
SIX Exactly what the doctor ordered for Adelaide! Narine back into the attack and a ball outside off, too full and smacked back past mid wicket for the six. Strikers - 6/143 (18.1) Renegades - 9/171 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Just a couple of singles from the last 2 balls and the Strikers need 35 from 12 balls. Just about over here. Strikers - 6/137 (18) Renegades - 9/171 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
WICKET! Brad Hodge, Bowled Thisara Perera 26 (20) That might just about do it here! Perera again taking all the pace off the ball and Hodge has looked to go big over mid on, but chopped onto his stumps. 37 off 14 required. Strikers - 6/135 (17.4) Renegades - 9/171 (20)