Hosts Melbourne Renegades prevailed in a low scoring thriller against Brisbane Heat at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. Renegades chased down the target set by Heats with 6 overs to go and 5 wickets in hand.
Chasing 81 for victory, Renegades got off to a worst possible start as they lost opener Matthew Wade off the second ball of the innings courtesy a stunner from Freddie Flintoff at first slip. Soon, the hosts were reduced for 19-3 at the end of fifth over and Heats had them reeling at 5-39 after 10 overs as offie Stephan Parry and medium pacer Dan Christian scalped for Callum Ferguson and Shakib Al Hasan respectively.
Tom Beaton joined skipper Ben Rohrer at the crease as the duo batted with responsibility and made sure that there is no further hiccups in the chase. Rohrer held one end as he rotated the strike to Beaton who was the aggressor. Beaton struck two fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 16 ball 31 and along with Rohrer (31 ball 25), Beaton took his side home. Dan Christian was the pick of the Heat bowlers with figures of 2-13in his four overs.
Earlier put into bat, Brisbane Heats were never in contention to score big on a wicket that assisted the spinners. Australian pacer James Pattinson dismissed Jimmy Peirson and Joe Burns off the first two deliveries of the match and Bangladeshi Internatinal Shakib struck sent back Christian and Jason Floros in his first over to put the visitors on the mat at the end of six overs. Renegades managed to strike at regular intervals and restricted their opposition with a mere 80 on the board. Ben Cutting (30) and Peter Forrest (22) were the only batsmen who reached double figures for Heats while Shakib was the pick of Renegades bowlers with figures of 4-13 in 4 overs for which he was named the Man of the Match.