Perth Scorchers 212 for 5 (Bancroft 95*, Eskinazi 54) beat Melbourne Renegades 202 for 5 (Finch 76*, Marsh 54) by 10 runs
Cameron Bancroft smashed a career best 95 not out before Perth Scorchers survived a late Aaron Finch onslaught to lock up top spot on the BBL ladder after a dramatic 10-run victory over Melbourne Renegades at Optus Stadium.
Finch, playing his 100th BBL game, was left to rue inserting Scorchers into bat as Bancroft capitalised after quick David Moody was removed from the attack in the second over for bowling two dangerous waist height deliveries.
Chasing 213, late fireworks from Finch almost hauled in the huge total but it wasn’t quite enough as fourth-placed Renegades (6-7) remain in a fight for a playoff spot.
Scorchers will host arch-rival Sydney Sixers in a qualifying final on Saturday with the winner to progress into a home final on February 4.
Bancroft, Eskinazi smash shorthanded Renegades attack
It’s been tough going for teams batting first at Optus Stadium this season with the surface playing occasionally sluggish. With temperatures soaring in Perth in recent days, sunny days oozing hardened surfaces, Stephen Eskinazi’s first ball limit of the innings gave a hint of what was in store.
Eskinazi dominated early, capitalizing on a lackluster Renegade offense with creative shots that included multiple scoops to the limit to smash his 37 of his 13 balls in the first. bottom. Bancroft was mostly on the sidelines from his first three deliveries of the spinner until he greeted his WA his teammate Corey his Rocchiccioli with two sixes.
The opening player smashed 62 runs off a power play against Eskinazi just after hitting another limit to match his half-century with just 26 deliveries. Although he was unable to continue it, Bancroft continued to plunder attacks of the capricious reformers. Bancroft was mostly sidelined early in the season. While he’s probably best known as a tall, slow-moving hitter, the more daring Bancroft has been aggressive this season, featuring careless hitting, as exemplified in his fight against a 50-ball knock. and
Moody’s Horror Homecoming
For Moody, nephew of Western Australian great Tom Moody, it was a terrifying homecoming. Moody shared a new ball in the second half in a short-lived performance he would rather forget, but only continued with a legitimate delivery in the nightmare.
Moody got off to a good start with a point delivery until the batter needed medical attention by throwing a wild full throw at 90 mph that hit Bancroft’s ribcage. His next shot was wide, but a rickety Moody delivered another full throw, only for Eskinazi to hit the boundary. It was considered above his waist level, and Moody had his attack called off after conceding eight runs from a legal delivery to finish with a glaring economic rate of 48.
Without spearhead Kane Richardson, another attack of the exhausted Renegade was under a lot of pressure, and their best plan fell through without Moody. They never recovered and the only bright spot was Will Sutherland’s yell from the catch, who after running back from center Sutherland hit Nick Hobson by flicking a one-handed hold and sacking Nick Hobson. showed his athleticism.
Finch almost reminded me of an incredible robbery
The Renegade were dead and buried, needing 68 from the last three overs, but Finch turned the clock back with three straight sixes when Seaman’s Andrew Tye leaked 31 runs in the 18th over. Renegades needed 37 runs from their last two overs but fell in the end. But Finch showed he was still in the tank with 35 to 76 balls, as did Sean Marsh, who also hit a half-century.
Kelly seriously injured
The Scorchers have injury worries ahead of the playoffs, with injury scare for fast Matt Kelly, who had to be substituted in 15 overs due to concussion rules.
In a horrifying incident, Kelly was hit in the face after a throw from Hobson to the non-forward end was deflected by Finch’s racket. For several seconds, Kelly lay motionless on the floor in the muffled silence of the 32,000 spectators.
A bloodied Kelly eventually got up and carefully got off the ground and was replaced by leg spinner Peter Haztoglou, who had been ruled out due to a collision with front-line spinner Ashton Agar. The Scorchers have an enviable depth of pace as Kelly takes on the Sixers and fast star Jhye Richardson is slated to return from a hamstring injury.