Match Center

Alright. Rain ruins us of a New Year thriller between Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Thunder. What is coming up on Saturday? Double-header! It is the Hobart Hurricanes hosting the Melbourne Stars at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart at 5.05 pm local (0605 GMT) while Brisbane Heat play hosts to Sydney Sixers at the 'Gabba at 7.15 pm local (0915 GMT). Join us then, on 2nd January, 2021. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

ALEX HALES HAS BEEN NAMED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH, for his quickfire 45 from 19 balls. Very rarely do you see this award go to a player who has scored nearly half the runs of the highest scorer of the match, but Hales was the one who had the bigger impact in the game.

Earlier, the Renegades rode on Shaun Marsh's brilliant 87 to reach 166/6, with 67 runs coming in the last 5 overs. Marsh's stand of 90 with Mohammad Nabi gave hopes to the Renegades of a win but eventually, that number 87, considered unlucky by Australians, did turn out to be unlucky for the 'Gades. More than anything, it is rain which has robbed them of a victory.

In an innings which saw plenty of boundaries, as many as 17, with 10 of those coming in the first 23 balls, two bowlers stood out for the Men In Red. Kane Richardson and Peter Hatzoglou, going for 34 in 5 overs combined. Richardson could have had a say, if we could have had the remaining overs bowled. Imad Wasim and debutant Mitchell Perry came under heavy scrutiny from Alex Hales but eventually, Perry got Hales.

Oky. Premature end to a longggg game. Two rain breaks but enough overs played out to have a result. In a high-scoring game, the Thunder have prevailed, simply because of a terrific start from Alex Hales. In an opening stand of 52 from 24 with Usman Khawaja, the Englishman hammered 45 from just 19 balls, which handed the Thunder all the momentum. The Renegades did come back nicely after that, pushing the required rate up but destiny did not want them to finish on the winning side.

And it did not take long for the decision to come. SYDNEY THUNDER HAVE WON BY 7 RUNS (DLS METHOD). And they get all 4 points, which means, they top the table. Really tough luck for the Renegades, they were in with a really good chance, but this simply does not seem to be their season.

The rain looks to have settled down now. And more umbrellas and rain coats are opening up in the stands. This does not look good.

Aaron Finch is up for a chat now. Says that it is bucketing down and reckons it is very heavy. Admits that this break is not ideal with the DLS par score reading 110/2 for the Thunder. Is also aware of overs being lost by, with every 4 minutes gone. On him discussing fielding tactics with his bowlers, Aaron says that he lets the bowlers set the fields. On the mathematical look at the game, AF says that the Power Surge tends to spoil all plans and calculations. As of now, with all 17 overs allotted, he is looking at 2 overs of Richardson, 2 from Sutherland and 1 from someone else, with 2 bowlers allowed to bowl 4 overs. On his knowledge about the Power Surge in this scenario, Finch says that as per his understanding of the rules, once 10 overs pass by, the teams tend to lose the Surge, depending on the overs left. As per his reckoning, the Thunder can have only 1 over of the Surge, but he is not too sure.

Oh dear... not what the Renegades wanted. The rain has got heavier and the umpires call for the covers. The DLS par score for the Thunder is 110/2 at this stage, so they would be happy.

Good finish to the over. Outside off, on a length, Usman looks to defend but the ball nibbles away to beat the outside edge.

Slower ball, short in length, outside off, Uzzie backs away, slashes hard but misses.

FOUR! Up and over! Length ball, in the slot, around middle and leg, Khawaja lofts it over mid on and nearly gets it all the way, with the ball landing just in front of the ropes. 56 more needed from 32 balls.

A short ball, at the body, slower in pace, Sam looks to pull but mistimes it to the leg side. A single taken.

A short ball, around off, Sam looks to pull but misses. The keeper appeals, then the bowler follows, but the umpire is not fooled.

Full and outside off, Billings drives with a loose bottom hand and nearly finds mid off. Lands just short.

Here comes 'CHEAP'. That is his nickname. Will Sutherland.

DROPPED? Or not? Full and outside off, Billings looks to play the reverse sweep again. But he is done in by the pace and to the naked eye, it seems like it took the top edge. Sam Harper, the keeper, is unable to gather and the ball stings his gloves and deflects to short third man. A run taken, no signal from the umpire, so there was a top edge.

We have a change of ball. The earlier one seems to have got very wet and difficult to grip.