The Melbourne Renegades have strengthened their position in the Big Bash competition with a blistering seven-wicket win over the Hobart Hurricanes at Docklands on Wednesday night.
The Hurricanes struggled to score, making 9 for 103 - including just two fours and a six - off their 20 overs. Ricky Ponting top-scored with 25.
The Renegades' spin trio of Muttiah Muralidaran, Marlon Samuels and Aaron O'Brien stifled the batting side and took six wickets between them, while paceman Nathan Rimmington chipped in with three wickets.
Melbourne then clobbered 12 fours and a six in a ruthless batting display, to virtually seal a semi-final spot thanks to the boost in the team's run-rate.
The Renegades took 10 runs off the first over from Doug Bollinger, and although Xavier Doherty hit back with a wicket maiden, claiming Daniel Harris (3), the home side were intent on wiping out their target quickly.
The biggest hit of the night provided no benefit for the batsman, however, as Aaron Finch smashed a huge shot which was headed for the top deck at Docklands before it hit a beam attached to the roof.
The home crowd sent down a chorus of boos when the shot was declared a dead ball, but Finch and Marlon Samuels kept going after the bowling.
The West Indies batsman clattered three boundaries off successive balls from Michael Hogan before being bowled for 21 off just nine balls.
Ben Rohrer kept the momentum going, hitting 18 off 10 balls before being bowled by Jason Krejza, but by that time the Renegades were 3 for 64 off just 7.1 overs and headed for a thumping victory.
Finch (46 off 40 balls) and Tom Cooper (10 off 14) saw Melbourne home with 6.4 overs left.
Marlon Samuels was named man of the match for his quickfire batting and his bowling figures of 3 for 22 off four overs.
The win means the Renegades remain on top of the table and undefeated after three games, while Hobart is struggling with one win from three games.
Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, melbourne-3000, vic, hobart-7000, tas, australia First posted December 19, 2012 22:20:33
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