Cutting left red-faced as Renegades extinguish Heat
Ben Cutting was left with a bloody nose as Melbourne Renegades thrashed Brisbane Heat by eight wickets in the Big Bash League on Thursday.
The Heat appeared to be coming to the boil after recording back-to-back wins, but they were soundly beaten at the Gabba.
Brendon McCullum (50) scored a second successive half-century before the Heat ran out of steam, collapsing from 88-2 to post just 144-8.
Pakistan paceman Usman Shinwari took 3-16 after spinner Cameron Boyce (2-17) claimed the big wickets of McCullum and Chris Lynn.
The Renegades coasted to victory with 26 balls to spare, Sam Harper making an unbeaten 56 and captain Tom Cooper 36 not out in an unbroken stand of 106.
Brisbane only had themselves to blame, dropping four catches - including a skier which went through Cutting's hands and left him with blood streaming from his nose.
What a win! We remain undefeated against the @HeatBBL at The Gabba! @sammyharps1 and @tomcooper26 huge with the bat.
We are now 4-3 for the season.
Next stop @GMHBA Stadium in Geelong against the @HeatBBL on Sunday Jan 13.#GETONRED #BBL08 pic.twitter.com/cCIP8pRKVm
— Melbourne Renegades (@RenegadesBBL) January 10, 2019
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BOYCE AND SHINWARI TAKE HEAT OUT OF BRISBANE
The Renegades bowlers did a good job of keeping the run rate down after Cooper won the toss, but they still had work to do with McCullum and Lynn at the crease.
Lynn struck Joe Mennie for six and McCullum ramped Dan Christian over the ropes, but Boyce struck a big blow when he had the former caught by Mohammad Nabi for only 14 in the 10th over.
McCullum continued to score at over a run a ball, but was on his way after slog-sweeping the excellent Boyce straight to Beau Webster at midwicket.
Shinwari had removed Max Bryant and he claimed two wickets in the penultimate over, while keeping it tight in an impressive showing from the Renegades in the field.
CUTTING SPILL SETS THE TONE
Cutting was left literally red-faced after making a mess of a chance offered by Australia Test opener Marcus Harris (28) in the first over of the Renegades run chase.
The all-rounder smiled as he left the field, surely through gritted teeth, after the ball came down from a great height and struck him straight on the nose.
Harris rubbed salt into the wounds by striking Pattinson for a six and three fours in his next over.
Cutting's moment to forget set the tone for a poor fielding display from the home side, with four dropped catches giving the Renegades a huge helping hand.
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HARPER AND COOPER SEAL VICTORY AT A CANTER
A tense finish was never on the cards due to a combination of a bad day at the office in the field for the Heat and fine knocks from Harper and Cooper.
The pair came together after Harris - replacing Aaron Finch - was cleaned up by Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the fifth over with 39 runs on the board.
Cooper was dropped twice before wicketkeeper-batsman Harper hooked Brendan Doggett for six over fine leg and struck him over the top for a couple to win it later in the 16th over.