Nic Maddinson suffers serious knee injury as Melbourne Renegades lose four in a row
Scorchers cruise to victory and stay atop after Tye bags three wickets and Inglis and Bancroft control the chase
AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff
01-Jan-2023
Nic Maddinson was stretched off after injuring his left knee • Getty Images
Perth Scorchers 156 for 5 (Inglis 47, Bancroft 46, K Richardson 2-21) beat Melbourne Renegades 155 for 6 (Finch 65, Tye 3-32) by five wickets
Nic Maddinson's suspected serious knee injury has compounded Melbourne Renegades' woes after they suffered a fourth consecutive BBL defeat. Renegades copped a five-wicket loss to the red-hot Perth Scorchers at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, continuing their slide after a positive 3-0 start to the season.
Aaron Finch's 65 off 48 had given the home side a sniff, steering them to 155 for 6 from their 20 overs, with Scorchers quick AJ Tye taking 3 for 32 to restrict the hosts. But Josh Inglis and Cameron Bancroft got Scorchers over the line in a controlled chase.
Scorchers reached the target with two balls to spare, despite the efforts of Renegades quick Kane Richardson. It was Scorchers' fourth straight win, firming up their spot at the top of the table.
Maddinson's slump continued when he was out for a first-ball duck, giving him a total of just three runs in his last five innings. His day got worse when he injured his knee while fielding during the second over of Scorchers' chase, twisting his left leg as he turned to throw the ball.
The 31-year-old immediately slumped to the turf and was assessed for several minutes before being driven off the field. Renegades are yet to determine the full extent of the injury, with Maddinson set to be sent for scans.
Wicketkeeper Peter Handscomb also failed to see out the match, substituted off after 16 overs as he struggled with the effects of the soaring temperature.
Import opener Faf du Plessis and Bancroft gave Scorchers a solid platform in their chase.
Richardson was on a hat-trick when he removed Adam Lyth with the last ball of one over and du Plessis with the first of another, but he could not complete the feat.
Bancroft was brilliantly run out by Will Sutherland, but Inglis took the reins and put his side on the brink of victory.
There was late drama when Inglis unsuccessfully reviewed an lbw decision and was given out before Nick Hobson hit the winning run off Sutherland.
Earlier, Finch became the second player to reach 3000 career runs in the BBL, joining all-time leading scorer Chris Lynn. Tye was the pick of Scorchers' bowlers claiming the key wickets of Finch, Handscomb and Mackenzie Harvey. Jason Behrendorff also bowled superbly claiming 1 for 17 from four overs.