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Alright, that's that from this BBL encounter. Perth Scorchers have secured a home qualifier with this win against Sydney Sixers and the winner of that game will go on to host this season's BBL final. This has been me, Pradeep along with the company of Bidipto Datta as we sign off, stay safe and take care!
Cameron Bancroft has been adjudged the Player of the Match! Here's what he has to say: I think we turned it into a pretty good game of cricket in the end, Finchy batted really well, we probably didn't execute as well as we would've liked to but it's still nice to win in the end. Really huge to win this, we haven't had a lot of cricket in a few years, it was important to finish off us in the home ground, there's going to be some tough games to come and keep building. Matt and Tye are still not ok, it's nice to see them get up and walk off the ground but medical team will take care of them.
This innings had quite a bit of action in it, some great, some nasty, but on the whole, a good performance from Perth Scorchers at home today, to defend the score they put up on a good batting wicket!
The Melbourne Renegades gave a really good account of themselves with a fine start and a fine finish, but it was through the middle phase of this innings where they lost control of the chase.
Two really good half-centuries from comeback man Shaun Marsh and skipper Aaron Finch, almost did the impossible for their side, but the target to chase was a bit too much one has to say, right from the get go.
Aaron Finch took Andrew Tye, the best bowler in the competition so far, for 31 runs in the 18th over of this second innings to bring the game much closer than one thought at one stage. And this also shows that perhaps it is better for Aaron Finch to open the batting and get to face as many balls as he can to get himself set for some big blows later on.
There were two injuries though to the Scorchers, that were definitely not good to watch! Matthew Kelly got hit on the face, flush, from the throw to the bowler's end and Andrew Tye, in trying to take a high catch, copped a nasty blow to his face. Both seemed to be fine in the end though and that was relieving from every cricket lover's point of view.
It was interesting that the home team picked young Cooper Connolly but did not bowl him, but brought Peter Hatzoglou on as a concussion substitute for Kelly and bowled him straightaway! Plus, Ashton Agar was sitting on the sidelines for them, with Ashton Agar bowling 3 overs and taking 2 wickets. The thing with the Scorchers is that at the moment, whatever they are doing is turning to gold.
So it is confirmed that Perth Scorchers will top the table no matter what now and will get a crack at the first playoff game against the Sydney Sixers at this very venue on Saturday next. As for the Melbourne Renegades, they have done their net run rate no harm whatsoever by going that close today, and currently sit on 12 points with one game to play. They are still in the hunt for a playoff berth.
20
overs
202/5score
1
6
0
1lb
6
4
runs
Aaron Finch*
76(35)
Jack Prestwidge
10(5)
David Payne
1/31
19.6 David Payne to Jack Prestwidge, FOUR! Doesn't matter as Scorchers get over the line by 10 runs. Pace off, short and well outside the off-stump as Finch stood tall and slapped it well over extra-cover, goes one bounce into the fence for a boundary. Finch came late to the party but they should feel happy as they came very close in the end.
The last ball is coming up now!
19.5 David Payne to Aaron Finch, SIX! Too little too late this for Renegades. Short and well outside the off-stump, Finch on the backfoot opens the face of the blade and ramps it over the third-man fence for a maximum.
19.4 David Payne to Jack Prestwidge, OH DEAR! Short into Prestwidge, gets rushed as he went to pull and misses, ricochets off the helmet to short third-man fielder.
19.3 David Payne to Jack Prestwidge, short and angling it across right-hander on the fifth stump, Prestwidge swings and misses, through to the keeper
19.2 David Payne to Jack Prestwidge, SIX! BAM! Short into Prestwidge, stood tall and gets into position quickly to PUMMEL it way over deep mid-wicket fence for a maximum. Renegades need four of those.