Melbourne Renegades 5 for 150 (Webster 54*, Harvey 40, Meredith 3-22) beat Hobart Hurricanes 9 for 139 (Malan 34, Evans 5-33) by 11 runs
It was far too late to impact their season, but the Melbourne Renegades' impressive victory, led by Zak Evans' five-wicket haul, dumped the Hobart Hurricanes out of the tournament and kept the Melbourne Stars and the Adelaide Strikers alive for a little bit longer.
Amid a range of scenarios, the Hurricanes could have ended all debate with a victory that would have secured them the last spot in the finals but they produced a poor chase to end a tournament which had promised much with such strong batting resources.
The Renegades came from nowhere to take this game having limped to 4 for 49 before Mackenzie Harvey and Beau Webster staged a recovery in the second half of the innings. In the field they were highlighted by 20-year-old Evans' haul, including the key scalps of Matthew Wade and D'Arcy Short, and completed his five-for in the last over as another disappointing Renegades tournament ended in smiles.
A final top-order struggle
The first ten overs of the Renegades certainly looked like a team whose tournament had long-since ended. Aaron Finch's competition-to-forget ended when he picked out mid-on and Shaun Marsh, who passed 300 runs for the season but faded in the latter stages, got an inside edge into the stumps against Riley Meredith who put a couple of expensive displays behind him with fine figures. When Jake Fraser-McGurk found mid-on and Sam Harper was defeated by D'Arcy Short's left-arm wristspin the Renegades were 4 for 49 in the ninth over.
The recovery
From 4 for 58 after 10 overs, the Renegades were able to score 92 in the last 10 overs and 55 off the last five. Harvey was given a life on 20 when Peter Handscomb dropped a simple chance at mid-off - admitting on the TV coverage it was one of the easier catches he had ever put down - but the Renegades could only manage 18 off the two Power Surge overs and with five left still had less than 100 on the board. Harvey sent Sandeep Lamichhane over long-off for six twice in the 17th over and though he then fell to Meredith, Webster and Imad Wasim ran hard between the wickets and the last over was taken for 16 with Webster reaching a 33-ball fifty.
Big names underwhelm
Still, a chase of 151 should have been well within the Hurricanes' reach. Wade was quickly out of the blocks but then found short fine leg and from there life became tougher on a slow pitch. Peter Hatzoglou went straight through Ben McDermott, whose impressive tournament ended with three single-figure scores, but at 2 for 69 after 10 overs things were still under control. The Hurricanes took the Surge as soon as it was available at the start of the 11th over and second ball Short was yorked by Evans as he gave himself room. Dawid Malan was key, but having ticked over at a run-a-ball was caught at deep square two balls after being dropped by Hatzoglou off his own bowling. When Marsh took a superb catch in the deep to remove Will Jacks it was falling apart.
Prestwidge's save, David denied
The Hurricanes had made the call to bring Tim David in as their X-Factor after Nick Winter had bowled one over and not found any swing. David then shaped as among their last hopes and the target was still within striking distance with 38 needed off the last three overs. Facing Will Sutherland, David launched the ball towards long-off where Jack Prestwidge leapt into the air, held the catch then was able to flick it back before crashing over the boundary. A six became two and then next ball David lapped to short fine leg. On such things do tournaments rest.
