Match 55, Melbourne, January 19, 2022, 10:40 AM

170/8(20.0ov)
169/7(20.0ov)

Sydney Thunder beat Melbourne Renegades by 1 run

Right then. That is all we have from this clash. We have the final league game of the season coming up though. Hobart Hurricanes will take on Melbourne Stars in what will be Glenn Maxwell's 100th game in the league. The scheduled start for the same was 2:20 pm IST (8:50 am GMT), but since this clash ended late, the start of the next game has been pushed back by 5 minutes. Switch tabs, wait for a few minutes and enjoy that clash!
Cameron Boyce might have failed to get his team over the line with the bat, but it was his bowling that got Melbourne Renegades back in the game. It is therefore not a surprise that he is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for figures of 4-0-21-5.
Melbourne Renegades were right on top till 18.3 but after that, things changed completely. Had they got a boundary at that point, things would have been over but that wasn't to be. Merlo fell and Harper failed to get going. Still, only 9 were needed in the last over and in this day and age, you back the batting side with such equations. Gurinder Sandhu bowled a brilliant final over though. He did not buckle under pressure and got a dot ball in at first. The second ball saw Jason Sangha doing some great fielding and they got a run out. Finch fell too and it was all but over for Melbourne Renegades. Will Sutherland though had different plans and sent one sailing over the fence. 3 needed from 2 and Melbourne Renegades smelled victory again. Sydney Thunder though got out of jail after that and held the Renegades at bay with a margin of just 1 run!
Sydney Thunder needed to restrict Melbourne Renegades to 87 if they had to move above Sydney Sixers on NRR but that was always going to be difficult. They did get a couple of early wickets but Unmukt Chand and Aaron Finch put on a really good stand. Finch got a sublime fifty and led from the front. Even after the wicket of Chand, Jonathan Merlo kept the game moving and took them closer to the finish line.
WHAT A GAME OF CRICKET! Melbourne Renegades simply cannot get a win here! Two games where they had the game in their bag but have lost it in the end. Boyce is down on his knees and cannot believe it. Sydney Thunder have stolen a victory from the jaws of defeat here. They don't move to the second spot but this has been a thorough entertainer.
In over# 20
0W
1
6
0W
0W
0
Gurinder Sandhu 33/3(4)
19.6
W
OUT! TAKEN! Unreal scenes at the MCG as the Renegades' hearts are broken on the final delivery! Gurinder Sandhu, take a bow! What a final over, gave nothing away apart from that one six. This is bowled full and wide, Cameron Boyce slices it straight to Jason Sangha at point and he doesn't crumble under pressure. The catch is taken. A couple of feet left or right and the ball could have gone to the ropes but it wasn't meant to be. The man who was having probably the best day he ever had, is left on his knees and you've gotta feel for Cameron Boyce. SYDNEY THUNDER WIN BY 1 RUN!
Now 2 needed from the last ball. Boyce is the man on strike. He did it with the ball. Needs to do with the bat now.
19.5
1
Full and wide, this is jammed out to backward point for a quick single. 2 needed from 1 delivery and is a Super Over on the cards?
19.4
6
SIX! SMACKED! That is out of here! Pressure? What pressure? says Will Sutherland! Just when we thought, it's all done, Sutherland comes out of nowhere and puts the Renegades back on top. A length ball, on off. Sutherland backs away and swats it well over the long on fence for a biggie. 3 required off 2 now.
Cameron Boyce is the new man in. 9 from 3.
19.3
W
OUT! GONNNEEEE! That should seal the deal for Sydney Thunder! Length ball, on off. Finch heaves it to deep mid-wicket. But he doesn't middle it! Sams runs in from the fence and takes a great low catch.
Will Sutherland is the new man in. He is not on strike. 9 needed from 4.
19.2
W
OUT! RUN OUT! Sam Harper is a goner. This is disastrous for the Renegades as they are crumbling under pressure. On middle and leg, Harper flicks it towards short mid-wicket and just has to push for a run. Jason Sangha over there makes a brilliant stop and throws it back to the bowler. Gurinder Sandhu whips off the bails in a flash and the replay shows that Harper is short of his crease. The Thunder can feel it now.
Is that a wicket? Yup, Sam Harper is short!
19.1
.
Dot ball! Pressure on Sam Harper here. Good-length ball, around off. Harper makes room looking to slap it on the off side but misses.
So, 9 needed in the last over and Finch is not on strike! Gurinder Sandhu will bowl.
In over# 19
1
0
0W
1b
1
1
Daniel Sams 22/1(4)
18.6
1
Full and straight, Harper drills it down towards long on for a single. 9 required now off the final over.
18.5
.
Another slower one, on middle. Harper defends it out.