ADELAIDE, Australia, CMC- A brilliant, nerveless all-round display from Dwayne Bravo helped Melbourne Renegades secure a thrilling one-run win over the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash yesterday.
Bravo top scored with a dazzling 47 from 33 balls to set up Renegades’ winning total of 6 for 155 before outsmarting the Strikers with the ball.
The Windies’ stalwart sent down eight dot balls from his initial 10 deliveries, a span which returned two wickets for two runs and later held his nerve at the death.
With the bat, he capitalised on an impressive opening stand of 63 between Daniel Harris and Michael Hill after taking his time to settle on a sluggish surface, having scored just 8 from his first 12 balls.
Man-of-the match Bravo top-edged Shaun Tait for six, creamed Michael Neser over cover, pulled Johan Botha over midwicket, and launched Tait again over the long-off fence.
The Strikers chase got off to an electric start, racing to 1 for 48 from four overs.
Michael Neser led the chase with a gutsy 35 not out which gave the Strikers a strong chance.
With Adelaide needing 14 runs from the final over, the Renegades turned to Bravo and, in a frantic finish, Striker Kane Richardson scored two from the last ball, when needing four to win or three to force a deciding “super over”.
Both sides were playing only for pride with a finals berth out of reach.
