The Melbourne Renegades' aspirations of reaching the Big Bash League finals have been left in tatters after a stunning last-gasp defeat to the Sydney Thunder at Engie Stadium on Monday night. In a rain-affected thriller, the Thunder, anchored by a spectacular late assault from captain Chris Green, chased down a revised target to claim a thrilling four-wicket victory.
Chaotic Chase Sees Green Play Match-Winning Hand
The Thunder's pursuit of a DLS-adjusted target of 140 runs was in disarray at 6-95, having lost three wickets for just 15 runs in the space of eight deliveries. With the game slipping away, Chris Green walked to the crease under immense pressure. Facing the Renegades' most effective bowler on the night, Gurinder Sandhu (4-42), Green proceeded to bludgeon three consecutive sixes, swinging the momentum of the match decisively.
Green finished unbeaten on 34 from just 13 balls, in a match-winning partnership with Nic Maddinson, who scored 30 not out from 17 deliveries. Their unbroken 45-run stand for the seventh wicket guided the Thunder to 6-140 with four balls to spare. Maddinson, who battled testicular cancer during the off-season, fittingly hit the winning run to backward square leg.
Renegades' Tactical Gamble Backfires Spectacularly
Earlier, the Renegades had posted 8-170 from their full 20 overs, but their innings was hampered by a collapse of 3-7 either side of the drinks break. A controversial tactical decision then came back to haunt them. In a bid to accelerate the scoring, the Renegades strategically retired Pakistani international Mohammad Rizwan (26 off 23), sending in Will Sutherland as his replacement.
The move immediately unravelled. Sutherland, under intense pressure to perform, was run out at the non-striker's end for just 1 after a deflection from bowler Daniel Sams hit the stumps. Channel 7 commentator and former Australian player Brad Hodge described the retirement as a "disaster" and a "good old-fashioned under-12s" move, questioning the courage required to bench a star player.
Finals Equation Now a Near-Impossible Task
The devastating loss leaves the seventh-placed Renegades' season on a knife's edge. To have any chance of playing finals cricket, they must now win their final two matches against the Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers and rely on a complex series of other results falling their way.
Their clearest path requires the Brisbane Heat to lose one of their last two games and the Sydney Sixers to lose both of theirs. Even if those results occur, the Renegades would still need to overhaul the Heat on net run-rate. For the Thunder, the victory was a vital boost, keeping them off the bottom of the ladder. They must beat the Sydney Sixers this Friday to avoid claiming their sixth wooden spoon in 15 BBL seasons.
Reflecting on his match-winning performance, Green told AAP he was "pretty motivated" after a tough season. "It was just really important to finish on a high," Green said. "The rain made the ball skid on, so you find the middle of the bat and it just flies."
