MELBOURNE: Tom Rogers’s 3/22, coupled with a combined batting effort, led Melbourne Renegades to a narrow two-wicket victory over Perth Scorchers in the 10th match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2024 here at the Docklands Stadium on Monday.
Set to chase a modest 144, the home side had to make hard yards to knock the winning runs as they had lost eight wickets in the process.
The hosts had a shaky start to the run chase as explosive opener Jake Fraser-McGurk (two) perished in the first over with just nine runs on the board.
In-form New Zealand international Tim Seifert then joined opener Josh Brown (12) in the middle and launched a counterattack with a blistering 28 from just 14 balls.
The duo raised 33 runs for the second wicket before both fell in successive overs, reducing the hosts to 42/3.
Jacob Bethell and Laurie Evans then steered the Renegades in a commanding position by adding brisk 54 runs amid their crucial fourth-wicket partnership.
The important stand culminated with Bethell’s dismissal in the 10th over, while Evans followed the suit just seven balls later.
Bethell remained the top-scorer for the Renegades with a 22-ball 30, while Evans made 24 from 18 deliveries.
Later, skipper Will Sutherland made sure there were no further hiccups in the run chase with an unbeaten 15-run knock.
Jason Behrendorff bagged two wickets for the Scorchers, while Matthew Kelly, Andrew Tye, Cooper Connolly, Ashton Agar and Ashton Turner made one scalp each.
Put into bat first, the Scorchers only managed to amass 143/8 in 20 overs despite Connolly’s anchoring half-century.
The top-order batter remained the top-scorer for the Scorchers with a 50-ball 66, comprised of one four and four sixes, while middle-order batter Matthew Spoors contributed with a cautious 29-run knock, which came from 26 deliveries.
Rogers spearheaded Renegades’ bowling charge with three wickets, while Fergus O'Neill, Kane Richardson, Sutherland and Adam Zampa struck out one batter apiece.
The two-wicket victory lifted Melbourne Renegades to the top of the BBL 2024 standings with four points in three matches, while Perth Scorchers remained fourth with two points in as many games.
