Melbourne Renegades 4 for 178 (Nabi 71 *, Fraser-McGurk 29 *, Rashid 2-24) beat Adelaide Strikers 7 for 177 (Salt 59, Carey 42, Renshaw 30, Hatzoglou 3-43, Prestwidge 2-20) with 6 wikis
A shameless stance between Mohammad Nabi and Jake Fraser-McGurk lifted the Melbourne Renegades to a six-wicket victory over the Adelaide Strikers at Adelaide Oval to end a difficult seven-game run in the Big Bash League.
The Strikers had kept the Renegades in contention by breaking down badly in their last six pitches, losing 6 for 44 after looking very similar to surpassing 200 after donations. strong from Phil Salt, Alex Carey and Matt Renshaw – Jack Prestwidge ‘s spell of 2 for 20 was crucial in stopping his move.
After Aaron Finch’s early fall, the Renegades were in danger of moving to the issue again, but Nabi established a rescue union with the inspired Prestwidge and then the important one with Fraser-McGurk, who could have done some long-term damage to the Strikers by hitting a driver back into Peter Siddle’s left thumb. Siddle finished the game but was clearly uncomfortable as Nabi blamed the boundaries that brought the Renegades home and almost doubled his contest collection in the process.
Strikers find the salt shake
There has been a debate going into this game about Salt’s place at the top of the order, after just one score over 30 in his first eight innings of the tournament. A trip out against Renegades at the bottom gave a chance to regain some poise, and in perfect early afternoon position at Adelaide Oval, Salt happily warmed up his work with Renshaw, spending 12 balls to settle before climbing into Noor Ahmad, Peter Hatzoglou and Imad Wasim.
Renshaw’s moments, too, in a 61-yard opening center, hit five boundaries within the Powerplay and showcased the power he was able to display from time to time against the balls. white and red. Slowly, Renshaw ‘s anvil missed the move without so many gaps to find, and when he put Prestwidge to midfield it looked like an appropriate time for Carey to reach midfield.
The Power Surge was not, therefore
Adelaide 1 was for 104 and set by hand when Carey opted, it was clear to all and certainly Renegades Finch captain, to use the Power Surge. Going up Kane Richardson while Finch brought all but two players inside the ring, Carey went on to crush six over cover and far ahead from the first two balls of the t. -lift, before putting two more runs down the ground. After all three of these balls, suddenly there was a moment of speculation when it became clear that no manager noticed Carey ‘s clear signal and Finch’ s identity.
For a few seconds, a pair of enemies not as friendly as Carey and Finch may have gone into a stand-off. If Carey had denied his mark – even though he was clearly on the broadcast – the Strikers might have been able to get a new call for two more looks. But as it was, Carey and Finch worked very much within the spirit of the game by allowing the umpires to call the Power Surge amicably to the scorers, and after Carey dropped the following, the Strikers ’innings were limited to 6 for 44 from their last 35 balls.
Nabi comes to a Renegades party
Just 78 runs in six innings so far have suggested that Nabi ‘s previous elegant record with the Renegades gave the same bolt as Michael Klinger’ s coaching tenure. But a slower-turning Adelaide surface was starting to turn – more for Rashid’s leg fracture than is typically seen in Australia – the kind of pitch Nabi would often thrive at at the Docklands, and it wasn’t long before did he find the finish at the right times after Finch, MacKenzie Harvey and Sam Harper had all entered the teens.
Finch’s decision to inspire Prestwidge after he delivered a useful spell with the ball gave Nabi a mind-like alliance, and together they grabbed the scratches that gave the Renegades an advantage point for their improving Adelaide’s tally at the 10-over mark. As Rashid wellas bowled, their 42-point stand out of 26 balls did not deserve to be overshadowed by his googly: although Prestwidge was clearly hit, the ball was comfortably shot. down the side of the leg.
Fraser-McGurk hits an interesting beat
After believing one six down to earth with the follow-up work already familiar to those he saw in youth and state ranks, Fraser-McGurk struggled to find a way past Siddle in Power Surge over eventually costing just two as he laments a ball back straight and hits his former Victorian player a sad blow to his left thumb while instinctively trying to capture them. Play was held up for several minutes while Siddle tried to get over it, and the following over Fraser-McGurk hit a ramp bullet about as clean as possible to hit another six, this time off Wes Agar. When the next ball was pulled over a cover, Siddle let it go while still struggling with his left hand.
This left Nabi with a very capable position to achieve from the last four pitches, allowing the fifth pair to take 10 wickets from Rashid’s final round. Needing 21 off the final two rounds, Fraser-McGurk took advantage when another ramp was fouled by Harry Conway, allowing three, before Nabi overcame Siddle just then over the cover point for four then six. Now the Strikers were going down in their last six goals quickly seeing, as the Renegades happily put off the last five runs with an extra ball.
Daniel Brettig is assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig