Matt Renshaw’s brilliant boundary off the final ball has secured the Brisbane Heat a crucial three-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars to help keep their BBL finals dream alive.
Chasing 160 for victory, the visitors surged and stuttered several times before reaching their target in a dramatic finish at the MCG on Monday night.
Renshaw was the matchwinner, top-scoring with an unbeaten 90 from 56 deliveries in a total of 7-160.
The Heat needed nine runs off the last over and were aided by the Stars being limited to four men outside the circle because of a slow over rate.
CLICK HERE for a seven-day free trial to watch the Big Bash League on KAYO
Beau Webster further helped their cause when he began the 20th over with a wide. But the Heat still needed four off the last ball and Renshaw delivered, scooping Webster’s final delivery over the in-field to the rope at fine leg ahead of desperate fielders.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
“I tried to hit the absolute living daylights out of the first five and that didn’t work, so Matty Kuhnemann, the left-arm orthodox (bowler), came down and told me to ramp it,” Renshaw said.
“It’s his go-to shot and fortunately it paid off. I knew I got it pretty well and fortunately it just rolled over that rope.”
Renshaw was given two lifelines, firstly when he was dropped on 47 by Clint Hinchliffe, who misjudged the flight of the ball in the deep.
The Stars also failed to run out Renshaw on 63 when Adam Zampa couldn’t gather Nathan Coulter-Nile’s off-target throw, with the batter well short of his ground.
“You reflect on that stuff and we probably could’ve killed the game there, but those things happen,” Stars batter Nick Larkin said. “Guys are trying their arses off out there and unfortunately sometimes catches don’t stick and run-outs don’t hit the stumps.
“It was probably great cricket to watch (at the end) but it was heartbreaking to be involved in.”
A 66-run partnership between Renshaw and Jimmy Peirson (22 from 18) was important before the 26-year-old left-hander steered his side home with the tailenders.
Renshaw’s innings included six fours and four sixes.
Brisbane’s win came despite Test duo Usman Khawaja (14) and Marnus Labuschagne (six) failing to fire with the bat.
It improved the Heat’s record to 4-6-1, while the Stars (3-9) are out of the finals mix in last spot on the ladder.
Earlier, Larkin top-scored for the Stars with 58 from 36 deliveries in a total of 7-159.
Michael Neser (4-25) was outstanding for the Heat during the powerplay and power surge, taking 3-11 from his three overs with fielding restrictions in place.
But Larkin took 14 runs from the first four balls of Neser’s final over – the last of the innings – before the Test quick finally got his revenge by dismissing the Stars batter.
Webster (36 off 34) and Tom Rogers (26 off 23) also did some damage for the Stars.
Neser claimed the wickets of Webster and Coulter-Nile in consecutive deliveries during the 16th over but missed out on what would have been his second hat-trick of the season.
Pant on the mend after crash
Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant has undergone successful surgery weeks after suffering multiple injuries in a car crash.
The wicketkeeper-batsman was heading to his home town Roorkee when the car he was driving hit a central divider, flipped over and caught fire in the northern state of Uttarakhand in the early hours of December 30.
Photographs of the car suggest he was fortunate to avoid death, let alone more serious injury.
Earlier this month, the country’s cricket board (BCCI) said he would “undergo surgery and subsequent procedures for ligament tears.”
“I am humbled and grateful for all the support and good wishes,” Pant wrote on Twitter.
“I am glad to let you know that my surgery was a success. The road to recovery has begun and I am ready for the challenges ahead. Thank you to the BCCI, Jay Shah (BCCI secretary) and government authorities for their incredible support.
“From the bottom of my heart, I also would like to thank all my fans, team mates, doctors and the physios for your kind words and encouragement. Looking forward to seeing you all on the field.”
Pant, 25, was part of the India squad that sealed a 2-0 Test series victory over Bangladesh earlier in December.
He was not included in India’s squad for the first two Tests against Australia next month.
Conrad named new South Africa Test coach
South Africa have named Shukri Conrad as their new head coach in Test cricket with Rob Walter to take over in the limited overs format.
Mark Boucher, who had been in charge across all formats, resigned following the recent Twenty20 World Cup in Australia to take up a role in the Indian Premier League with the Mumbai Indians.
Conrad is an experienced head coach in South African domestic cricket and was most recently in charge of the national Under-19 side.
He will have a light workload early in his tenure with South Africa scheduled to play just three more Tests in 2023, starting with a two-match series at home to West Indies that gets underway on February 28.
Walter has previously worked as a strength and conditioning specialist with the national team but spent the past seven years coaching in New Zealand domestic cricket.
Both coaches take up their roles from February 1.
South Africa’s director of cricket Enoch Nkwe confirmed they will have interim coaching for the three-match home One-Day International series against England that begins on January 27.
The Proteas suffered a 2-0 Test series defeat to Australia earlier in January.
Viacom 18 secures women’s IPL media rights
Viacom 18 will pay 9.51 billion Indian rupees ($A170 million) for the media rights of the women’s Indian Premier League for the next five years, the country’s cricket board has announced.
Viacom 18 outbid Disney Star, Sony and Zee among other broadcasters in a closed-bid auction in Mumbai, ESPNcricinfo reported, with the inaugural women’s IPL – a Twenty20 tournament – set to be played in March.
“This is massive for women’s cricket,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said on Twitter, adding that the bidding amount would have a per-match-value of 70.9 million Indian rupees ($A1.25m).
A three-team Women’s T20 Challenge had been staged alongside the men’s IPL since 2018, but the BCCI had been urged to set up an expanded tournament for women with more teams and players.
“After pay equity, today’s bidding for media rights for Women’s IPL marks another historic mandate,” Shah added.
“It’s a big and decisive step for empowerment of women’s cricket in India, which will ensure participation of women from all ages.”
In August last year, Disney Star won the rights to broadcast men’s and women’s International Cricket Council (ICC) events through to the end of 2027 in a deal reported to be worth $3 billion.
In June, Disney-owned Star India retained the television broadcast rights to the men’s IPL for $4.3 billion.