Fraser-McGurk screamer helps Renegades win thriller against Strikers

An early contender for catch of the season from Jake Fraser-McGurk has helped the Melbourne Renegades overcome a dramatic batting collapse to beat the Adelaide Strikers by two runs in their thrilling season opener at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday night.

Chasing 154 for victory, the visitors were in cruise control at 1-50 in the seventh over before the momentum changed dramatically as Fraser-McGurk leapt vertically into the air from a stationary position on the deep midwicket boundary, like a cat hunting a pigeon, to take a sensational one-hander.

Jake Fraser-McGurk of the Renegades takes a spectacular catch in their BBL match against the Adelaide Strikers.Credit:Getty Images

The classic grab not only dismissed Weatherald for 18, but stopped a certain six to hand Zahir Khan (3-24 off four overs) his second scalp and reduce the visitors to 2-50.

Adelaide proceeded to struggle from that point, with Khan leading the charge as the Renegades increased the pressure to such a degree that in the 15th over, Daniel Drew got the Strikers’ first boundary in 41 deliveries.

Will Sutherland (2-13 off two) then entered the fray, dismissing Harry Nielsen (30 off 30 balls) with his first ball and bowling George Garton (five off three) with a peach of a yorker, to keep the men in blue under the cosh.

Things were exacerbated for Adelaide when Ryan Gibson (eight off seven) retired hurt after seemingly badly injuring his hamstring running between wickets.

After failing to register a 10-run over for 10 overs, some late fireworks from debutant Daniel Drew (23 not out off 20), Rashid Khan (11 off seven) and Daniel Worrall (nine off six) gave the Strikers a sniff of victory, needing nine runs off the last over and four off the last ball to force a super over.

But Drew’s attempted heave off James Pattinson (1-27 off four) was in vain, falling well short of the third man boundary, and managing just two runs as his team finished on 8-151.

The Strikers Daniel Drew tried to get his team over the line against the Renegades.Credit:Getty Images

Ultimately, some crucial late wickets from Reece Topley (1-43 off four), Kane Richardson (1-24 off four) and Pattinson were enough to deny the visitors.

However, the contest probably shouldn’t have been so close. After winning the toss and batting first, the hosts looked set for a very healthy score when they were 2-114 in the 15th over, but they lost 6-9 in 13 balls late in their innings to end up 9-153.

Some terrific death bowling from stand-in Adelaide captain Peter Siddle (3-42 off four) and Worrall (2-26 off four), who each took a two-wicket over to aggressively apply the brakes, led to a flurry of very soft dismissals with the Renegades offering up a host of simple catches for the Strikers.

Mackenzie Harvey scored his first BBL 50 for the Renegades.Credit:Getty Images

But without captain Nic Maddinson (Australia A), Aaron Finch (knee), Test opener Marcus Harris and Shaun Marsh (calf), Melbourne would take some heart from the performances of their young batsmen.

Mackenzie Harvey (56 off 46), who hit his first BBL 50, Sam Harper (33 off 28) and debutant James Seymour (23 off 14), who hit Peter Siddle for six with his very first ball in the BBL, all stood tall for their side.

Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.

Most Viewed in Sport

From our partners

Source: Read Full Article