BBL6 Game 30 Recap - Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Renegades @ The Gabba

Brisbane Heat 10/198 (19.5 Overs) defeated by Melbourne Renegades 5/199 (20 Overs) @ The Gabba

Renegades Survive To Keep Finals Hopes Alive

The Melbourne Renegades kept their season alive for another day with a dramatic 1-run win over the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba last night. In a wild final over, the Heat needed 18 for victory, and when Joe Burns clubbed the first two balls out of the park the Renegades season looked doomed. However, despite bowling three wides, Nathan Rimmington picked up the final three wickets, the last in truly bizarre fashion. Requiring 3 runs from the final ball, RImmington strayed once more, only for non-striker Mitchell Swepson to charge like a madman up to the striker's end, leaving a simple run out for rookie Renegades keeper Andrew Harriott to execute. It was a brain explosion by Swepson, however it was the sort of finish that really summed up a wacky game. After pulverising 106 from their opening 9 overs, the Renegades had to settle for a score of 5/199 after a late fightback from the Heat's bowlers. Once again Aaron Finch (71) and Marcus Harris (48) were the stars for the Renegades, before Callum Ferguson chipped in with a vital 31 not out from 15 balls. In reply, the Heat were motoring at 1/85 from 5 overs, however the loss of Brendon McCullum (64) dragged the Heat back, ensuring a tight finish. 

Renegades Nervous Wait

The Renegades have been the cardiac kids of BBL6 and they proved that again last night by playing host to another cliffhanger. Quite amazingly, five of the Renegades' seven games have come down to the final over, and three of those to the final ball. Their season looked doomed when they dropped their first three final-over battles against the Scorchers, Sixers and Hurricanes, however they clawed back two nail-biters to give them a shot, heading into the final day. If the Scorchers can beat the Hurricanes today, and the Stars can beat the Sixers, the Renegades will hold onto 4th spot and head into the finals with some momentum on their side. Often in the BBL it can be the side that gets hot late that can go on and win the tournament, and the Renegades are potentially that team this season.  

Finch Sending Strong Message To Australian Selectors

While Australia are in control against Pakistan in their ODI series, their top order performances have been patchy at best. David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head have yet to register a half century between them through three games, heading into 4th ODI at the SCG on Sunday. Finch had experienced a lean 12 months on the ODI scene, however he has responded magnificently to being dropped by pummelling 354 runs at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 160. You could say it is a different form of cricket, the BBL,  however Chris Lynn's BBL performances were enough to see him slingshotted straight into the ODI side. While George Bailey at 34 is unlikely to win back a spot in Australia's ODI side due to the fact they are unlikely to recall a player that will be close to 37 years of age at the time of the next World Cup, Finch still has an excellent chance to win back his spot. Outside of David Warner, he remains the most destructive opener in the country and will be 32 when the next World Cup comes around. Finch has a steady ODI record averaging 35 from 77 games, with a strike rate of 90. 

Cutting Needs To Step Up

The Brisbane Heat will head into the finals next week as one of the teams to beat, despite last night's narrow loss. With Chris Lynn unlikely to be back, the Heat need some of their senior players to step up in the finals and produce alongside prolific captain Brendon McCullum. Ben Cutting has been a senior member of the Queensland side and the Heat setup for 3-4 years now, and I think he is a real key man heading into this final's series. Cutting, for mine, has not lived up to his ability in BBL6 with the bat or the ball, however there were signs with the bat last night that he could explode in a big game. Cutting is one of the biggest hitters of the cricket ball in the country, however has managed just 78 runs at an average of 15 this year and a strike rate of 161. Last night was clearly his best innings, as his 35 from 19 balls changed the momentum of the run chase. Cutting finally landed a couple of lofty blows and could be a game changer down the order for Brisbane at his best. As the Heat's most senior fast bowler, Cutting has been well below his best this year. Cutting has just 8 wickets at 39 and has been far too expensive going for over 10 runs per over. If the Heat want to win a second title, I think he has to ring that in to close to 8 per over.

Lurker Out of Sorts and Out of Luck

The Lurker has had a nightmare 2017 after starting BBL6 in imperious form at 10-1. The Lurker suffered his first 3-game losing streak of the season to slump to 18-12 overall. It's a crucial final five games for the Lurker as he looks to push over the 20 win mark in his debut season. Can he strike back in today's double header?