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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 30, 2016
Agar’s last-ball six seals thriller for Scorchers for Scorchers PERTH Scorchers have played Melbourne Renegades six times, and won the lot. Last year, in this very fixture, they recorded the BBL’s first-ever 10-wicket win. This time, they won, but it was not that simple.
rightly or wrongly - has never played international cricket. Klinger, the BBL’s most prolific batsmen ever, has been the Man-of-the-Match (with 105 then 91, both unbeaten) in the Scorchers’ last three wins over the Renegades and, with rain fall-
easy. He found the boundary with ease, not least when he launched Brad Hogg over long-off for a six that took him to 50 and nonchalantly flicked Nathan Rimmington over fine leg with the same result. Everyone in the stadium was surprised when his leading edge floated back to Sunil Narine with victory in sight. The Renegades had finally dismissed Klinger after 173 balls.
game-ending - and perhaps worse hamstring injury fielding in the 11th over of the Scorchers’ chase. At that stage they were one down and needed 81 off 57. Bravo had bowled just one over; the loss of his three overs meant the misfiring Nathan Rimmington had to be bowled out (at a cost of 45) and Finch had to bowl two. Briefly, remarkably, it looked like they might have got away with it.
TURNER’S TURN Off-spinner Ashton Turner’s name is as fine a case of nominative determinism as cricket can currently offer. Anyway, spin has historically played a big role at Docklands Stadium, and his excellent performance set the path for the rest of the game. Turner’s first over only fuelled the Renegades’ excellent start, as Marcus Harris thumped him for two fours. Adam Voges persisted with Turner, and that paid dividends when Harris topedged a sweep to deep midwicket. After Cameron White Dwayne Bravo was stretchered off the field after injuring his hamstring near the boundary. and Callum Ferguson put (Cricket Australia/Getty Images) on 50, back came Turner to begin the stall; his four It required a swatted six ing outside and the roof on, overs cost just 25, and he from Ashton Agar with the had White caught at deep game’s final ball, a full toss midwicket. bowled by Aaron Finch (yes, you read that right). ScorchA TALE OF TWO ers required nine from the BROTHERS final over, and Finch disA fine night for Mitchell, missed the set man Mitchell but not so much for Shaun, Marsh, caught at long-on off as both look to hustle their another full toss, and Adam way back into the Australian Voges, run-out by a direct hit squad for the final Test of trying to pinch a single. the summer, which will be Agar, who had faced just named today. two balls, required three off Shaun has fond memothe last, and smote high and handsome over cow corner Ashton Agar celebrates with Sam Whiteman after ries of this ground, having put on 171 with Klinger last for six. It was a remarkable smashing a six off the last ball. year to seal that 10-wicket conclusion. win. The pair extended their One of the great joys of played the game’s defining WHY ON EARTH WAS unbeaten run to 207, but the BBL is that it has made hand here. FINCH BOWLING THE Shaun struggled yesterday. household names of the likes His 72 was a triumph of FINAL OVER? His tortuous seven took 14 of Michael Klinger, who - functionality and calmness The Renegades’ best laid balls, with just three of them as he set Scorchers up to cruise home with overs to plans went to waste when resulting in runs. There was spare; alas, it was not that Dwayne Bravo suffered a one lovely slash through point for four and drive through mid-off for two; the rest was a tale of ugly timing. Mitchell had a much better night. The all-rounder South Africa Racing Tips kicked things off with a Fairview 08:20 hrs Juan Two Three fine spell of bowling, ham08:55 hrs Varlotone mering away at a length for Taunton 09:30 hrs Valmode four overs, and picking up a 09:00 hrs Beau Du Brizais 10:05 hrs Red Hot Lady wicket - Ferguson, the man 09:30 hrs Yur Next 10:45 hrs Roman Garrison 10:00 hrs Dashing Oscar who very briefly replaced English Racing Tips 10:30 hrs Altesse De Guye him in the Test side - with Haydock 11:00 hrs Dusky Legend his final ball. 08:40 hrs Horseguardparade 11:30 hrs Boa Island He took two fine catches 09:40 hrs Mount Mews 12:00 hrs Lets Go Dutchess 10:10 hrs Templehills - on the fence at third man 10:40 hrs Spookydooky to see off Tom Cooper, and American Racing Tips 11:10 hrs Listen To The Man at deep square leg where Aqueduct 11:40 hrs Druid’s Folly he was picked out by PeRace 1 Luna Rising Race 2 Hard Study Newcastle ter Nevill - to boot. Mitch08:50 hrs Killermont Street Race 3 Bonita Bianca ell’s brutal knock took the 09:20 hrs Captain Dion Race 4 Sicilia Mike Scorchers to within seven 09:50 hrs Masterpaver Race 5 Tuscan Getaway runs of a win, before he 10:20 hrs John Milton Race 6 Saratoga Giro 10:50 hrs Galilee Chapel dragged himself from the Race 7 Danebury 11:20 hrs Celtic Artisan field having holed out. Race 8 Stormin Monarcho 11:50 hrs Crystallographer Fortunately for him, Race 9 Cheering for Al 12:20 hrs Dancin Alpha Agar saved his blushes.