The Brisbane Heat have ended the Melbourne Renegades' faint Big Bash League finals hopes with a 12-run win at Docklands on Thursday night.
After no wins from their first four matches, the Heat have now won their last two and the Renegades join them at the bottom of the ladder.
The Heat rallied from a middle-order collapse to post 7 for 168 from their 20 overs and then held the Renegades to 9 for 156.
Alister McDermott and Michael Neser took three wickets apiece for Brisbane, while Daniel Vettori top-scored with 40 and Roelof van der Merwe made 36 in their match-turning partnership for the Heat.
The Heat made a massive breakthrough at the end of the Renegades' 18th over when a direct hit from Andrew Robinson ran out Aaron Finch for a top score of 72.
Finch hit five sixes and three fours in his 46-ball knock and his dismissal left the Renegades needing 31 to win with three wickets in hand.
Finch batted at number three rather than opening after a knee injury to Glenn Maxwell forced a reshuffle of the top order.
Shahid Afridi took Finch's opening role, partnering Brad Hodge, and Maxwell came in at number seven.
Maxwell hurt his knee while unsuccessfully trying to stop a boundary during the Heat innings and hobbled through his knock of 10, before being caught at mid-off for Neser's third wicket.
The Heat were in massive trouble when they lost 4 for 10 to be 5 for 74 in the 12th over.
Leg-spinner Shahid Afridi took three wickets in four balls.
But Vettori and van der Merwe batted superbly in their 72-run tand to first stop the collapse and then compile a decent score.
Vettori had made 22 when he hit a Dirk Nannes delivery down the throat of deep square-leg.
But it was a no-ball because Melbourne had too many men outside the circle.
Overall, the Renegades did not bat well and were unable to generate the one big partnership that would have turned the game their way.
"Twenty20 cricket is hard - you always look to take a big risk early in your innings and some days it goes for you," Finch said.
He noted a top edge landed between fielders early in his innings, while another shot was caught on the ropes and then thrown away because it would have been a six.
Finch added Maxwell's dramatically-reduced output was a blow to the Renegades.
He only bowled one over and cricket's new rules meant there was no runner while Maxwell was batting.
Finch said the Renegades would try to end the BBL season strongly, but conceded their finals hopes are gone.
"You look at our net run rate and it's very poor compared to other sides," he said.
"Unless we can chase down 150 off three or four overs next game, I think it could be curtains.
"You've got to play positive cricket still - you've got to set a culture."
It was another outstanding effort from Vettori, who continues to commute between New Zealand and Australia for the BBL.
He flew out of his home country at 6:00am (local time) on Thursday morning for this match.
"It's not what I envisaged, it is quite difficult, and it's probably something I wouldn't entertain again," Vettori said.
"But I've really enjoyed coming over and playing for a different side."
Vettori added he probably was leaning towards playing for Northern Districts in New Zealand next summer, rather than having another season in the BBL.
"It's a long time away before you have to make those decisions, but you always love to get the offer because it means people think you're doing alright," he said.
"I still love playing for them (Northern Districts) and most of my mates play for them - it would probably be a lot easier to play for Northern Districts than to come over here.
"There's a lot of water under the bridge, we'll see what happens."
Vettori again batted superbly in a tight situation, something he enjoys doing.
"When you're in a little bit of trouble, you actually have more time to get in - you don't have to swing from the first few balls," he said.
AAP
Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, vic, melbourne-3000, australia First posted January 12, 2012 22:19:48
No comments:
Post a Comment