After posting 7-140 with the bat, another stunning performance in the field saw the Renegades bowl out the visitors with five balls to spare.
The Snapshot: The Renegades final home game of the regular season started on a winning note, with captain Aaron Finch winning the bat flip and electing to bat. Things from there seemed to turn south for the home team rather quickly however, with the Renegades slumping to 3-31 in the sixth over, at a run rate of less than a run a ball.
When Mohammad Nabi was dismissed for 36 in the 16th over, it looked like a dream run to the finals wasn’t to be for the Renegades…enter Cameron Boyce. He woke up the crowd – and the Renegades’ finals aspirations – with a quickfire unbeaten half-century, finishing on 51 not out off an incredible 22 balls. A four off the final ball of the Renegades’ innings with the bat ensured that Boyce secured a well-deserved half century; the equal-fastest in BBL|08.
Setting the Thunder 141 for victory, the Renegades were fired up as they headed out to the field – a feeling that was only boosted when danger man Shane Watson was dismissed cheaply in the first over. The partnership of Callum Ferguson (28) and debutant Baxter Holt (37) for the fifth wicket looked to challenge the Renegades for the all-important two competition points, but an all-round disciplined performance with the ball by the Renegades ensured that Boyce’s performance with the bat was not in vain.
The Renegades dismissed the Thunder with five balls to spare for a comprehensive win.
The Key Moment: Not only was the dismissal of Thunder captain Shane Watson for four in the first over of the second innings pivotal in terms of the match, but the wicket – bowled by Kane Richardson and caught by Tom Cooper – took Richardson to a total of 20 wickets for the season; the highest number ever recorded in a BBL season.
Richardson went on to add to his wicket collection for the night, also claiming the scalps of opener Jason Sangha and threatening debutant Baxter Holt. He finished the night with figures of 3-27 off his four overs and a total of 22 wickets taken in BBL|08 so far – four ahead of his nearest rivals, James Faulkner (Hurricanes) and Sean Abbott (Sixers).
The Key Player: Despite recently opening the batting and being listed at the top of the team sheet heading into the game, Cameron Boyce came in with the bat at number 8, which proved to be an inspired choice. Heading to the crease with his team sitting on 6-77 in the 15th over, Boyce energised a delighted Marvel Stadium crowd with a stunning cameo of 51* off 22 balls. Undoubtedly Boyce turned the match into a game, and with an incredible strike rate of 231.82 in an innings that included four 4s and five 6s, Boyce raced to the equal-fastest BBL half century of the season.
As well as chiming in with figures of 2-17 off 3.1 overs in the ball – including the final wicket of Fawad Ahmed that sewed up the win for the Renegades – Boyce was the undisputed Player of the Match.
Up Next: We now have an eight-day break before travelling to Hobart next week for our final match of the regular season. We’ll be looking to secure a home Semi Final with a win over the top-ranked Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena.