Jake Fraser-McGurk ended his poor run in the Big Bash League with a magnificent 46-ball 95, keeping the Melbourne Renegades’ narrow chances of finishing in the top four alive. In the big chase of 197, the Australian youth walked out to bat following an early wicket, but it was Josh Brown who threw the Brisbane Heat bowlers into a tailspin with some aggressive hitting. Brown raced to 15 in just 5 balls, hitting another boundary off Michael Neser before hammering Xavier Bartlett for consecutive sixes. His attempt to clear the ropes three times in a row was unsuccessful, as he was caught in the deep for 11-ball 32.
Renegades were able to kick on with a good base behind them, and despite Oliver Peake’s problems, Fraser-McGurk made sure his side would not fall behind. He embarked on a six-hitting frenzy, clearing the ropes three times in four deliveries before adding to Spencer Johnson’s problems by slapping him around for two fours and one six. At the midway point, he hit a 24-ball 50, putting his team in control. Fraser-McGurk exploded for 21 runs just after that.Johnson gained some atonement with wickets off consecutive deliveries, but the Renegades were getting closer to the mark because of the showering sixes. The youthful player was five runs shy of his century when his innings was ultimately interrupted by a brilliant catch by Matt Renshaw, but he had already caused enough damage, and Fergus O’Neill used the closing touches to complete the task with two overs remaining. Jack Wood hit a hat-trick of sixes against Will Sutherland after Heat had started the day quietly in the first two overs. Adam Zampa terminated Nathan McSweeney’s batting after the Heat openers put up 57 for the first wicket.Wood’s willow gave the visitors some momentum, and Renshaw also got going, initially against Tom Rogers, until Sutherland let up a hat-trick of sixes for the second time during the match. Heat had momentum going into the last stages after smashing 33 runs in the power surge, but they were forced to start again when Callum Stow removed both of the set batters in the same over. Daniel Drew faltered, but Tom Alsop ultimately set some helpful limitations to make sure his team nearly reached 200, which was ultimately insufficient.
