The Melbourne Renegades squeezed home in the last over to beat the Sydney Sixers by three wickets in the second Big Bash League semi-final.
The victory sees the Melbourne Renegades’ reach their first tournament final in eight years after a brilliant run-chase in a high-scoring match.
Dan Christian and Cameron Boyce added a crucial 41 runs for the seventh wicket in three-and-a-half overs, with 28-year-old Kane Richardson blasting a sensational nine runs off the three balls he faced to clinch the win in the last over.
Josh Philippe and Daniel Hughes got the Sixers off to a screamer, hitting the Devil’s Number (87) at the end of the ninth over, at which point Philippe fell to Boyce for 52 off just 31 balls (7×4, 1×6, S/R 167.74). Hughes (52 off 32 balls, 4×4, 2×6, S/R 162.50) raced the score to 121 off 12 overs and Jordan Silk played out of his skin to smash 17 off seven balls (S/R 242.85) to take the Sixers to 180-3 off their 20 overs.
Aaron Finch (44), Sam Harper (36 off 17, 3×4, 3×6, S/R 211.76) and Cameron White (29 off 17, S/R 170.58) set the Renegades well on their way in the run chase to set up the thrilling finale by team-mates Christian Boyce and Richardson.
So at the end of eight years of the BBL's existence, all eight teams will have played in a final and there will have been six different champions. #BBL08finals
— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) February 15, 2019
‘Best wicket we’ve had here all year. The boys set it up really well, didn’t leave it too far out of reach,’ said Player of the Match Christian after the match. ‘If they miss their yorker hopefully I can get it over the fence,’ he added, referring to his approach to the final overs.
Sunday’s final sees a Melbourne derby as the Renegades front up to the Stars.
Photo: Cricket Network /Fox / YouTube
