How did Melbourne Renegades pull that off?
The BBL title looked sure to be heading to the green side of Melbourne but in an extraordinary chain events it unraveled before the Stars' eyes and here's how…
ESPNcricinfo staff
17-Feb-2019
Marcus Stoinis was bowled by Adam Zampa • Getty Images
The BBL title looked sure to be heading to the green side of Melbourne as Ben Dunk and Marcus Stoinis took the Stars to 93 without loss chasing 146, needing 53 off 43 balls with all their wickets in hand. However, in an extraordinary chain of events it unraveled before their eyes and here's how…
12.6 Stoinis b Boyce 39 (53 needed off 42 balls)
OUT, through him! Nice flight and dip on this from Boyce. Draws Stoinis in for a heave but gets it to land at a length and skid past the inside edge and hit leg stump. Lost his shape there
OUT, through him! Nice flight and dip on this from Boyce. Draws Stoinis in for a heave but gets it to land at a length and skid past the inside edge and hit leg stump. Lost his shape there
13.3 Handscomb c Christian b Tremain 0 (52 needed off 39 balls)
OUT, oh hello. Handscomb with his contribution to the make-this-final-close cause. Runs down the pitch, seemingly to lift this over mid-off. But he's swishing with all the grace of a cow tied to a revolving door, because this ball's gotten big on him from a length. Slices and mid-off runs to the left to hold on
OUT, oh hello. Handscomb with his contribution to the make-this-final-close cause. Runs down the pitch, seemingly to lift this over mid-off. But he's swishing with all the grace of a cow tied to a revolving door, because this ball's gotten big on him from a length. Slices and mid-off runs to the left to hold on
Still, even with the loss of the two quick wickets things were still under control for the Stars with Dunk well set and the in-form Glenn Maxwell coning to the crease. Just a small wobble, surely?
14.3 Boyce to Maxwell, no run, dropped! White dives to his right and can't hang on! Length outside off, driven on the up with no feet. It's knee height but he had too much stabilising to do as he fell to the floor
14.6 Dunk c Christian b Boyce 57 (47 needed off 30 balls)
OUT, he's got a wicket off his last ball! Dunk will be furious at himself for this. So solid all evening, but he looks to crunch this one despite long-off being quite straight. It's overpitched on off and he drills it flat to that fielder
OUT, he's got a wicket off his last ball! Dunk will be furious at himself for this. So solid all evening, but he looks to crunch this one despite long-off being quite straight. It's overpitched on off and he drills it flat to that fielder
15.1 Maxwell c Harvey b Tremain 0 (47 needed off 29 balls)
OUT, oh boy! In less than three overs, Stars have completely handed the momentum to Renegades! Another ordinary shot. Short of a length ball coming in at his pads. He wants to use the pace and the angle to ramp this towards the long leg boundary. But he picks out deep square, a few yards inside. 4 for 6 this collapse!
OUT, oh boy! In less than three overs, Stars have completely handed the momentum to Renegades! Another ordinary shot. Short of a length ball coming in at his pads. He wants to use the pace and the angle to ramp this towards the long leg boundary. But he picks out deep square, a few yards inside. 4 for 6 this collapse!
Now it was seriously time for the jitters as 0 for 93 became 4 for 99. Still, the Stars had Nic Maddinson, Seb Gotch and Dwayne Bravo.
16.6 Maddinson c Finch b Gurney 6 (38 needed off 18 balls)
OUT, and they get the wicket! Gurney goes around the wicket and bowls a slower ball that slants across from a length on middle and leg. He's down early for the paddle/ramp, probably a good option, but he doesn't account for the slower ball. Has to check the shot and he gets a top edge that lobs up harmlessly for finch at short fine
OUT, and they get the wicket! Gurney goes around the wicket and bowls a slower ball that slants across from a length on middle and leg. He's down early for the paddle/ramp, probably a good option, but he doesn't account for the slower ball. Has to check the shot and he gets a top edge that lobs up harmlessly for finch at short fine
17.1 Gotch c Harvey b Christian 2 (38 needed off 17 balls
OUT, he's picked out deep midwicket! Oh dear, oh dear! That makes it 6 for 15 in 26 balls! Offcutte,r full on leg stump. Leans into it and makes good connection on what is an intentional chip. But the boundary is big there and you need to get the angles absolutely right. He doesn't
OUT, he's picked out deep midwicket! Oh dear, oh dear! That makes it 6 for 15 in 26 balls! Offcutte,r full on leg stump. Leans into it and makes good connection on what is an intentional chip. But the boundary is big there and you need to get the angles absolutely right. He doesn't
17.5 Bravo c White b Christian 3 (34 needed off 13 balls
OUT, White takes it at point! And he has no idea what sort of a celebration to pull out. Awkwardly lobs it up. Not sure anyone can comprehend this collapse right now. Bravo has managed to get a leading edge on a leg side full toss. That's what pressure does. Could have tickled it fine, could have clubbed it over midwicket, but it's a swish with the top hand coming off
OUT, White takes it at point! And he has no idea what sort of a celebration to pull out. Awkwardly lobs it up. Not sure anyone can comprehend this collapse right now. Bravo has managed to get a leading edge on a leg side full toss. That's what pressure does. Could have tickled it fine, could have clubbed it over midwicket, but it's a swish with the top hand coming off
In the blink of eye it was all over, the Renegades with their hands on the trophy as the final over started with 28 runs needed to leave Dan Christian to close out another title-winning performance
19.3 Christian to Bird, 1 run, full outside off, shuffles and slugs along the floor to long-on's right. Crowd erupts. Mathematically, this is the title for Renegades
19.6 Christian to Zampa, no run, inside edge onto toe and that is it for the Stars! Another loss in a final. Slower ball from Christian, swings across the line and can't do more than get this pitch side