It’s desperation stakes in the Big Bash League as the Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades make a trip to Canberra to push their finals hopes. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:40pm (AEDT).
The Thunder, heading into the final game of the season will need to win by a heavy margin and then have other results go their way if they are going to make the finals.
Taking the game to Manuka Oval in the nation’s capital, they currently sit on the same points as the Renegades and the Sydney Sixers, who are in fourth place on net run rate.
It’s guaranteed that the winner of this clash will jump the Sixers on the ladder. If it’s the Thunder, they will then need to either improve their net run rate substantially and then hope when the Renegades and Brisbane Heat (also on eight points) play the final game of the season, neither team wins by a large enough margin to overtake them.
The third-placed Hobart Hurricanes could also be caught, given they are only two points ahead with a worse net run rate.
Regardless, if the Renegades win, they will have to play terribly against the Heat to not qualify for the semi-finals.
The Thunder come into this game having saved their season by winning two of their last three games. It includes a victory over the Perth Scorchers, who have only lost two games this season and a drubbing of the Melbourne Stars in their last game.
Spinners Chris Green and Fawad Ahmed have been in fine form with the ball, while Shane Watson has been the key man with the bat, smacking 49 off 28 balls in the last encounter.
They shape as the three key players if the Thunder are to save their season again, but the depth of the Renegades may get them.
After such a strong start, it’s fair to say the Renegades have underperformed to drop out of the top four, losing three games on the trot.
Being without Aaron Finch and Cameron White hasn’t done them any favours, but with so much talent and experience, including Brad Hogg, Brad Hodge and Dwayne Bravo, it’s difficult to fathom why they have dropped so far.
Their form has been atrocious, but this is a match-up which should suit them if they can get past the Thunder’s spin bowlers. The men in red will be hoping for a pitch conducive to quick bowling though with Hogg struggling for form and Mohammed Nabi having departed the side.
Prediction
The Thunder have been inconsistent at best and even missing their Australian players, the Renegades should still have too much on the neutral turf at Manuka.
Renegades to end the Thunder’s season.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the Big Bash League from 7:40pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017-18 Big Bash League as the Melbourne Renegades ended the Sydney Thunder's season, picking up a nine-run victory. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. The Big Bash League continues tomorrow evening with the Perth Scorchers taking on the Adelaide Strikers at 7:40pm (AEDT). Tim Miller will be in the chair to take you through that one. I'm on the Australian Open semi-finals tomorrow. There are three matches, so be sure to join me from 2pm (AEDT). Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
MELBOURNE RENEGADES WIN BY 9 RUNS The Renegades then, are now in the driver's seat for the final spot in the top four. They move to ten competition points, two ahead of the Brisbane Heat who they play in the final game of the regular season. If the Renegades win that, they go through to the top four, but if they lose, it'll come down to net run rate. In saying that, it'll take a big turn around for the Heat to knock off Melbourne. Melbourne though, too good this evening. They started a little slowly, but finished with a bang with the bat, scoring 74 runs from the final over including 25 from the final over. That was down to the excellent work of Jack Wildermuth and Beau Webster, who backed up Marcus Harris' 64 earlier in the innings. Fawad was again the pick of the bowlers for the Thunder, picking up 1 for 27. In reply, the Thunder were decimated early on with Kane Richardson and Chris Tremain doing all the damage. Shane Watson and Jay Lenton provided some resistance, but it wasn't until Arjun Nair (45 off 25) and Ben Rohrer (48 off 21) combined when they really brought themselves back in with a shot. In the end though, it was always going to be a bridge too far after their slow start. Melbourne Renegades: 6/189 (20) Sydney Thunder: 10/180 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
WICKET! Mitch McClenaghan LBW Kieron Pollard 9 (8) That's the end. Kieron Pollard goes slow again, into the line of the stumps and McClenaghan got out of the way looking to sweep, leaving a leg in front of the stumps. It strikes him and goes onto the stumps with the umpires finger shooting straight up. That game had it all, but the Thunder's season is over and the Renegades are now in the box seat for the fourth spot in the finals.
Over: 20 Sydney Thunder: 10/180 Required score: 190
Scott Pryde
Expert
That'll be the end then. Fawad swings a low full toss into the leg side and can only grab a single from it.
Over: 19.5 Sydney Thunder: 9/180 Required score: 190
Scott Pryde
Expert
Short, slow bouncer and Fawad looks to swing it over mid wicket, but can't get any bat on ball. Replays show it was over head height. Should have been called a wide.
Over: 19.4 Sydney Thunder: 9/179 Required score: 190
Scott Pryde
Expert
McClenaghan gets too much on this into the leg side, straight to the man and they can only get a single for it. Ahmed on strike and they now need 11 off 3.
Over: 19.3 Sydney Thunder: 9/179 Required score: 190
Scott Pryde
Expert
Pollard bowls this outside off stump and at just 94 km/h. McClenaghan swings it across to the leg side and grabs two for it. 12 from 4.
Over: 19.2 Sydney Thunder: 9/178 Required score: 190
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fawad Ahmed the last man in. Mitch McClenaghan on strike.
Scott Pryde
Expert
WICKET! Chris Green, Caught Jack Wildermuth, Bowled Kieron Pollard 22 (14) That's going to do it. Pollard put the ball up there on a full length with Green looking to swing it over mid off. Skies it and Wildermuth completes the catch at point. 14 from 5.
Over: 19.1 Sydney Thunder: 9/176 Required score: 190
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kieron Pollard to bowl the final over. His first one went for 15.
Over: 19.0 Sydney Thunder: 8/176 Required score: 190
Scott Pryde
Expert
Another wider ball, slower and Green squeezes it out to deep point for a single. Green will retain strike and the Thunder need 14 from 1 over.
Over: 19 Sydney Thunder: 8/176 Required score: 190
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide yorker. Green can't get anything on it.
Over: 18.5 Sydney Thunder: 8/175 Required score: 190
Scott Pryde
Expert
Great running, but poor fielding. Full toss outside off stump and Green charges back for a second. The Thunder would love a boundary here. 15 from 8.
Over: 18.4 Sydney Thunder: 8/175 Required score: 190
Scott Pryde
Expert
Low full toss from Tremain this time and McClenaghan hits it hard to deep square leg for a single. 17 from 9.
Over: 18.3 Sydney Thunder: 8/173 Required score: 190
Scott Pryde
Expert
McClenaghan is doing a serious job here. He gets this one through mid wicket with the bat rolling in his wrists for another couple. 18 from 10.
Over: 18.2 Sydney Thunder: 8/172 Required score: 190
Scott Pryde
Expert
McClenaghan looks to work this one around the corner with Tremain starting on a straight line. Pitches outside leg, bobbles away and then they grab an overthrow as well. Two leg byes.
Over: 18.1 Sydney Thunder: 8/170 Required score: 190
Scott Pryde
Expert
Low full toss from Bravo this time, again with the pace off the ball and McClenaghan looks to work it past point for another couple, but can only grab a single. 22 needed from 2 overs.
Over: 18 Sydney Thunder: 8/168 Required score: 190
Scott Pryde
Expert
Great running and very smart batting from McClenaghan. He just punches this out to mid on and takes two for it, getting back on strike with a ball left in the over.
Over: 17.5 Sydney Thunder: 8/167 Required score: 190
Scott Pryde
Expert
Green works the next to point, but can't get it through. Single to point.
Over: 17.4 Sydney Thunder: 8/165 Required score: 190