Renegades win as Hales storms SCG

Updated January 10, 2013 08:41:51

English opener Alex Hales ended the Sydney Sixers' Big Bash League title defence in spectacular style as the table-topping Melbourne Renegades sounded an ominous warning ahead of the finals.

Hales, signed as injured Jamaican Marlon Samuels' replacement on Tuesday, walloped 89 from 52 balls, smashing eight sixes to lift the Renegades to a total of 5 for 178 and a 29-run victory.

The performance came less than 12 hours after he completed the exacting journey from London to Sydney, but the 24-year-old showed no signs of jetlag in Wednesday night's easy win.

"I was lucky enough to get a bit of sleep on the plane," Hales said.

"I knew if I got through the tough bit at the start with Brett Lee bowling very well, then it was a pretty good deck and I could make up for it later on."

After a slow start by the visitors, who opted to bat first, Hales turned the game on its head when he single-handedly plundered 22 runs from Josh Hazlewood in the fifth over.

Hazlewood fumbled the one and only chance of Hales' innings and it was comfortably the most costly of the four catches the Sixers put down in front of 17,801 fans.

Hales took a particular liking to the spin of Steve O'Keefe (0 for 50 from three overs), smacking four sixes off one over including a punishing blow over long on that travelled 111m and landed on the roof of the Members' Pavilion.

"There was a little bit of close your eyes and swing as hard as you can," Hales said.

Ben Rohrer (57), stand-in Renegades captain in the absence of Aaron Finch (national duty), shared a 112-run partnership with Hales and was in awe of the young gun who was in India three weeks ago with England's national T20 side.

"I think he was in business class and slept all the way, so he had no excuse," Rohrer laughed.

"I was wondering if the flight might have affected him, and I hope it has to be honest because it'll be pretty special if it gets better than that.

"He played perfectly really ... he's done really well to adapt so quickly."

Hales' knock was the second best of the tournament, with Finch's unbeaten 111 in the season opener the only better effort.

Hales' eight sixes was also the most for an innings this season.

The Sixers were a mathematical chance of sneaking into the top four and keeping their BBL title defence alive, but needed to reach the Renegades' total in approximately 12 overs and also rely on other results going their way.

The first hurdle always looked insurmountable, and so it proved as the Renegades made it seven wins from eight matches and rolled the Sixers for 149 with the last delivery of the game.

O'Keefe, who top-scored for the Sixers with 41, exacted a small degree of revenge with the bat when he pulled a short ball to Hales in the deep that the Englishman lost in the lights.

Veteran tweaker Muttiah Muralitharan was a last-minute withdrawal from the Renegades' side. A team spokesman confirmed it was a precautionary move and that he was in no doubt for the upcoming semi-final.

The absence allowed Pakistani immigrant Fawad Ahmed to make his Twenty20 debut, and he turned in bowling figures of 0 for 34 from four overs.

ABC/AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted January 09, 2013 22:22:27

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Warne-Samuels spat overshadows Renegades romp

Updated January 07, 2013 10:14:29

Aaron Finch's unbeaten 67 led Melbourne Renegades to a nine-wicket win over the Stars in a match that will be remembered for an ugly spat between Shane Warne and Marlon Samuels.

In front of a domestic Twenty20 record crowd in excess of 46,000, the Stars reached 9 for 146 in their innings in which six of their top seven were dismissed between 10 and 30.

The Renegades comfortably reached the total with seven balls to spare with Warne taking the only wicket to fall, Alex Doolan (30).

This brought Samuels to the crease and almost immediately there was a confrontation with Warne.

Angry at the batsman having obstructed David Hussey running during the Stars' innings, Warne grabbed at the West Indian's shirt and the pair exchanged angry words.

Moments later Warne, in an apparently deliberate act, hit Samuels with the ball when fielding near the batsman.

This led the Renegades batsman to throw his bat in the air and invite Warne to engage in an extended physical exchange.

Warne, who declined Samuels's offer, is likely to be censured for his actions as may Samuels, who later top-edged a bouncer from Lasith Malinga into his face, forcing him to leave the field retired hurt for 17.

Speaking to Fox Sports after the match, Warne sought to downplay the incident.

"I tried to throw the ball to (keeper) Bobby Quiney and the next minute I decided to get out of the way of that bat," Warne said.

"I'm more disappointed that we lost, that was just a heat of the moment thing.

"That's just the way it goes, I hope he's OK."

Samuels is reported to have suffered a busted eye socket, ruling him out of the rest of the tournament.

Peter Nevill (24 not out) gave Finch solid support as the Renegades romped to victory.

The Renegades have extended their lead at the top of the Big Bash League and are now guaranteed a place in the top four.

To reach the top four, the Stars must beat the winless Sydney Thunder, albeit without internationals Lasith Malinga, David Hussey, Clint McKay and Glenn Maxwell - and possibly a suspended captain.

Tags: cricket, sport, twenty20, melbourne-3000

First posted January 06, 2013 22:44:54

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Renegades win with late hitting

Updated December 23, 2012 11:27:10

Some late-innings big hitting from Tom Cooper and Ben Rohrer has seen the Melbourne Renegades to a six-wicket Big Bash win over the Brisbane Heat with five balls to spare at Docklands.

The Renegades were favourites to win after the Heat struggled to set a winning target, scoring 7 for 133 off the full 20 overs.

The momentum changed after Brisbane managed to tie down Melbourne openers Aaron Finch and Dan Harris in the powerplay.

Harris was out early for 10, and when Finch and Marlon Samuels continued to find it hard to hit the gaps, Brisbane started to believe an upset was on the cards.

The Renegades were 1 for 49 at halfway, and when the dangerman Finch was out for 33 in the 12th over, Melbourne were struggling.

The turning point came through Cooper (29 off 15 balls), whose two boundaries and two big sixes upped the scoring rate at the right time.

Rohrer chipped in with 27 off 25 deliveries to steer the home side to victory.

For the Heat, Ben Cutting did his very best to lift his side over the line, scoring an unbeaten 33 and taking 2 for 12 off four tight overs.

But Muttiah Muralidaran's 2 for 22 and Darren Pattinson's 2 for 32 helped restrict Brisbane enough to keep Melbourne in the hunt.

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, vic, melbourne-3000, brisbane-4000, australia

First posted December 23, 2012 00:46:12

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Renegades rip through Hurricanes at Docklands

Updated December 20, 2012 09:14:01

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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Renegades spinners silence Thunder

Updated December 15, 2012 00:31:12

Sydney Thunder capitulated to Muttiah Muralidaran and fellow spinner Aaron O'Brien as Melbourne Renegades chased down 117 to win by five wickets.

The Thunder's fate seemed sealed in the fifth over, when Chris Gayle - playing in his first game of the season - was run out when his bat stuck in the surface at the Olympic stadium just before he slid it beyond the crease.

From this point onwards the Renegades spinners took control with Muralidaran taking the key wickets of Usman Khawaja (19) and Mark Cosgrove (12), before Aaron O'Brien decimated the middle order of Chris Rogers (4), Azhar Mahmood (1) and Sean Abbott (3) in quick succession.

When Marlon Samuels took the wicket of Cameron Borgas (5), the Thunder were 7 for 60.

Good lower-order hitting from Chris Tremain (37 off 23) and steady support from Ryan Carters (19) at least gave the Thunder bowlers a target with three figures to defend.

The bowlers did not let the Sydney outfit down with Mahmood (2 for 18), Dirk Nannes (1 for 20) and Abbott (1 for 26) all impressing.

Although the Renegades made hard work of the response, the team's two in-form batsmen Aaron Finch (31) and Ben Rohrer (27) both made decent enough contributions to help their side get over the line.

William Sheridan (12) and Peter Nevill (7) were at the crease as the Renegades got the runs with 10 balls to spare.

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, sydney-2000, melbourne-3000

First posted December 14, 2012 22:18:57

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Renegades lose CEO

Updated April 12, 2012 16:53:56

Big Bash League franchise Melbourne Renegades have lost their inaugural chief executive, Geoff Miles.

Miles, who joined the Twenty20 outfit after five years running A-League club Melbourne Victory, has resigned after serving a short-term contract to help establish the franchise.

The Renegades say they will announce plans to recruit a replacement in due course.

AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, melbourne-3000

First posted April 11, 2012 20:39:26

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Hurricanes beat Renegades in thriller

Updated January 19, 2012 11:09:33

The Hobart Hurricanes have moved a step closer to hosting a Big Bash League semi-final after chasing down 4 for 173 in a nail-biter to beat the Melbourne Renegades at Bellerive Oval.

Led by opener Jonathan Wells, who made 72 off 61 balls, the Hurricanes won by seven wickets, sneaking the 10 runs they needed off a final over bowled by Shahid Afridi, whose final ball wide ensured the win.

Cool heads from Owais Shah (49 off 30) and Phil Jaques (12 off 7) guided the home side to 10 points on the BBL ladder, meaning that unless the Sydney Sixers enjoy a big win over the Perth Scorchers in the later game on Wednesday, a play-off match will be held at Bellerive this weekend.

The win snapped a two-match losing streak for the Hurricanes as they delivered on the promise they had shown when they opened their campaign with four straight wins.

Wells survived some anxious moments to pace the run home perfectly after the Hurricanes had pegged back a flying start from Renegades openers Aaron Finch (67 off 45) and Brad Hodge (63 off 41).

Wells and Travis Birt (25 off 16) hit the accelerator in the seventh and eighth overs, belting four sixes.

Wells managed three straight fours off Andrew McDonald's first three balls in the ninth, but one was a French cut and another a snick past wicketkeeper Graham Manou.

It did not stop him posting his 50 off 40 balls and with Shah he steered his side towards the victory before he was caught on the boundary by Will Sheridan off the bowling of debutant Brenton McDonald.

Earlier, Finch had broken his bat in blasting 67 off 45 balls for the Renegades.

The opener was left carrying the handle after trying to smash Ben Laughlin in the 14th over, having already belted three sixes and five fours.

Three of those sixes had come off consecutive deliveries from Jason Krejza (3 for 39) in the eighth over.

Finch and opening partner Hodge (63 off 41) put on 126 for the first wicket to get the Renegades off to a flyer before the Hurricanes applied the brakes and the Renegades lost 4 for 51 in the last eight overs.

Big Hurricanes opener Mark Cosgrove's first BBL match did not go well, the former South Australian awkwardly playing on a Dirk Nannes yorker he appeared to have dug out when on two.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, hobart-7000, tas, australia

First posted January 18, 2012 19:34:11

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Heat scrape home against Renegades

Updated January 12, 2012 23:29:20

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

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Renegades chase down Sixers

Updated January 02, 2012 22:50:59

Brad Hodge and captain Andrew McDonald guided Melbourne Renegades to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Sydney Sixers in their Big Bash League encounter at Docklands.

The result means both teams have two wins and two losses from their opening four matches in the Big Bash League.

Chasing the Sixers' total of 6 for 161, the Renegades made 2 for 164 from 17.4 overs.

The home side had struggled to 2 for 65 after 10 overs in their run chase.

But Hodge (72 not out from 51 balls) and McDonald (60 not out from 37 deliveries) started to take some risks and they paid off, as they shared an unbeaten 124-run partnership for the third wicket.

Man-of-the-match McDonald hit seven sixes and no fours, while Hodge blasted five fours and three sixes in a crowd-pleasing performance.

"Once we had a really good foundation we could go for broke," McDonald said of the hitting spree.

McDonald hit Sixers captain Steve Smith for three sixes in the 16th over to leave the Renegades in a comfortable position in the final four overs.

Hodge says the Renegades have regained their mojo after stringing together two consecutive wins.

"We both got bogged down a little bit, myself and Andrew," Hodge said.

"Then Andrew got one away (for six) and then we started to hit them.

"With wickets in hand, we both put the hammer down and we hit a few over the fence."

Hodge, 37, has scored 44 and 72 not out since returning to the side following a hamstring injury.

"I was confident it was only three weeks. I got back quicker than that," Hodge said.

Sixers pace bowler Josh Hazlewood took 1 for 19 off two overs before leaving the field for treatment to a foot problem.

He is expected to have scans on his foot injury on Tuesday.

Moises Henriques had top-scored for the Sixers with 41 off 30 deliveries.

Dwayne Bravo (7) was bowled by Dirk Nannes (2 for 36) in the second over before Nic Maddinson (29) and Michael Lumb (26) added 46 for the second wicket.

Henriques put on 63 for the third wicket with Smith (25) but Smith and Ben Rohrer (2) both fell to the bowling of Shane Harwood (2 for 28) in the 18th over.

Leg spinner Shahid Afridi claimed 1 for 23 off four overs in a solid effort, while Shaun Tait was only given two overs that cost 21 runs.

A crowd of only 10,818 attended Monday night's match, which began with the temperature hovering around 38 degrees.

Hodge says the Renegades are approaching Saturday's derby at the MCG against Melbourne Stars with plenty of confidence.

"If the Stars don't get up next game (against Perth Scorchers on Wednesday) then they're under the pump," Hodge said.

"We've got some real good momentum now."

Smith says he felt 6 for 161 was a reasonable score to defend.

"But it's pretty tough to contain Hodgey and Macca when they get going," Smith said.

The Sixers play Sydney Thunder at the Olympic stadium on Sunday in a derby clash.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, melbourne-3000

First posted January 02, 2012 21:51:12

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Renegades pull off miracle win

Updated December 31, 2011 12:06:48

Melbourne Renegades posted a remarkable six-run Big Bash League victory over a Chris Gayle-inspired Sydney Thunder.

Set a meagre victory target of 141 by the Renegades, the Thunder looked in no trouble with Gayle blasting 75, his third massive score in as many innings at the Olympic Stadium.

But brilliant bowling from Dirk Nannes (0 for 10 off four overs), Shahid Afridi (3 for 21) and Shane Harwood (2 for 26) combined with sluggish batting from Gayle's Thunder team-mates held the home side to 7 for 134.

Gayle admitted he felt it was a match the Thunder should not have let slip in front of 18,731 fans.

"I'm disappointed I didn't carry the team across the line," Gayle said.

"We got a good start (but) kept losing wickets at crucial times and that set us back and cost us the game.

"We definitely should've won it."

The Renegades first victory of the tournament keeps them in the mix for a finals spot.

The Thunder, undefeated in their opening two matches, needed 16 runs off the final over, bowled by Shaun Tait (2 for 32), but could only manage nine, with Tait bowling Sean Abbott with the last ball of the match.

Renegades pair Brad Hodge (44 off 31) and Aaron Finch (41 off 34) combined for 82 runs before Thunder spinner Luke Doran (2 for 26) removed both openers in the same over.

Only later did it become clear just how important those runs were, as the boundaries dried up on a tricky wicket.

From there, the wheels fell off but the Renegades managed to scramble to 8 for 140, which ended up being just enough despite more Gayle heroics at his favourite ground.

As a member of the Warriors last season, Gayle plundered 92 at the ground against a hapless Blues attack and his measured knock against the Renegades, in addition to last week's 100 not out against Adelaide, takes his tally at the ground to 267 in three innings.

Harwood says it was a pressure reliever to have secured the first win.

"It takes a little bit of pressure off the guys. It's one of those ones we needed," he said.

"Shahid Afridi obviously bowled really well ... Dirk Nannes was outstanding and gave us something to bowl to at the end.

"It was a very hard wicket to score from when you're not in."

Harwood says the upset victory was just the beginning, with another three wins from their next four matches required to make the finals.

"It was definitely [do or die]," Nannes said.

"We're thinking four games might get you there, so we're planning to win every game from here on in obviously."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, twenty20, sydney-2000, melbourne-3000

First posted December 30, 2011 22:21:44

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Strikers signal intent by thumping Renegades

Updated December 18, 2011 23:42:34

Adelaide Strikers used some old tricks in the new Big Bash League to crush Melbourne Renegades by 67 runs on Sunday.

The Strikers blasted 5 for 189 from their 20 overs before suffocating the disappointing Renegades, who limped to 122 all out in 17.5 overs at Adelaide Oval.

Strikers coach Darren Berry masterminded a Twenty20 title for South Australia last season and he adopted the same winning blueprint for the new Adelaide entity.

Berry's opening batsmen Daniel Harris (49 from 33 balls) and Michael Klinger (46 from 35 deliveries) bravely built a run-scoring platform, as they did last summer.

Then the Strikers relied on a miserly spin bowling trio - Aaron O'Brien (2 for 34), Johan Botha (2 for 17) and Nathan Lyon (1 for 26) - to turn the screws.

Their stingy spells forced Renegades batsmen to take risks against the likes of quick Kane Richardson, who cleaned up with 3 for 27.

Strikers captain Klinger said the comprehensive win over the Renegades was a "great way to start the tournament."

"Everything went pretty much according to plan, I couldn't be happier with the way the guys played," he said.

Only Glenn Maxwell (46 from 31 balls) and captain Andrew McDonald (35 from 31 deliveries) passed a dozen runs in a paltry reply to a Strikers' total underpinned by an opening stand by Harris and Klinger of 86 from 9.5 overs.

Harris slammed five fours and two sixes in his 33-ball knock, while his partner Klinger also thrived.

The Strikers' middle order cashed in on the opening salvo, notably Aiden Blizzard (30 from 18 balls) and Cameron Borgas.

Borgas produced a compelling cameo, smacking an unbeaten 28 from just nine balls - including 24 from a Shaun Tait over featuring an audacious ramp shot that sailed about 80 metres and over the fine leg boundary.

"It's a pretty gutsy move to do that to Shaun Tait, I think it will be the shot of the whole tournament," Klinger said.

Tait finished with unflattering figures of 1 for 41 from three overs and his pace partner Dirk Nannes (1 for 38 from three overs) was also expensive.

Only spinners Aaron Heal (2 for 32 from four overs) and Pakistani Shahid Afridi (0 for 27 from four overs) survived the Strikers' batting onslaught.

Renegades' top-scorer Maxwell said his side failed with ball and bat to exert the required pressure on the Strikers.

"We missed a few opportunities when we were bowling to put a bit of pressure on them," Maxwell said.

"And losing a few early wickets in our first six overs with the bat didn't help our cause."

AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted December 18, 2011 21:19:41

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Renegades to take shine off rival Stars

Updated December 09, 2011 18:44:48

Their Melbourne cross-town rivals may be called the Stars but the Renegades believe they have enough cricket talent to be the headline act in the inaugural Big Bash League.

The Renegades' bowling attack will be led by former internationals Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait when they open their season against the Adelaide Strikers on December 18 at Adelaide Oval.

While the Melbourne Stars boast the biggest Australian cricket star of all in Shane Warne, Nannes says his side has the best bowling line-up in the competition.

"I'm certainly glad to be a Renegade because we've got a damn good team," he said on Friday at Docklands, where the team will play.

"We're going to give this competition a shake."

As well as Nannes and Tait, the Renegades have Pakistani all-rounders Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi.

"I think it's the best in the competition," Nannes said of the Renegades squad.

"From top to bottom there really isn't a weakness in our team so I would have thought we're a pretty good side for the competition."

He and Tait have just returned from a two-week Twenty20 tournament in Zimbabwe which Nannes believes was ideal preparation for the Big Bash.

"Taity and I got to bowl on good hard wickets in good, competitive atmosphere which is probably a better lead-up than playing the one-day competition because we had six or seven games in 10 days," Nannes said.

"Both of us bowled pretty well and we're bowling pretty fast.

"In terms of Twenty20 competitiveness we'll be a lot better off for the hit-out."

AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted December 09, 2011 18:44:48

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Manou signed by Renegades

Updated December 01, 2011 15:14:50

Big Bash League team the Melbourne Renegades have completed their 18-man squad for the upcoming Twenty20 competition by signing wicketkeeper-batsman Graham Manou.

The former South Australia captain, who played one Test for Australia, moved to Melbourne in May and has been playing grade cricket for Richmond.

The 32-year-old will be a back-up to young Victorian Ryan Carters with the gloves.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000

First posted December 01, 2011 15:05:15

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