MELBOURNE, Australia, CMC – All-rounder Dwayne Bravo snatched the spotlight away from under-fire West Indies teammate Chris Gayle with an electrifying unbeaten half-century but the knock failed to save Melbourne Renegades from a comprehensive eight-wicket loss in the Melbourne derby here yesterday.
In the spotlight for the past week for all the wrong reasons, Gayle managed a run-a-ball 21 at the top of the order but it was Bravo with 59 off 37 deliveries, which set the Docklands Stadium alight and propelled Renegades up to 155 for six off their 20 overs.
All-rounder Dwayne Bravo goes on the attack during his unbeaten 59 for Melbourne Renegades at Docklands Stadium yesterday.
However, Englishman Kevin Pietersen than slammed an unbeaten 67 to guide Melbourne Stars to their target with two overs remaining.
The defeat was the Renegades’ fourth and it left them sixth in the standings on four points while their city rivals Stars are now third on eight points and two points off leaders Adelaide Strikers.
Sent in, Renegades lost Tom Cooper to the seventh ball of the game for one with the score on three but Gayle and captain Cameron Whyte, who hit 29, added 53 off 45 deliveries for the second wicket to revive the innings.
The left-handed Gayle gathered just five runs from his first 12 balls before exploding in the seventh over with two leg-side sixes off leg-spinner Adam Zampa.
His fireworks were short-lived, however, as he eventually holed out to long on off seamer Marcus Stoinis in the ninth over.
Whyte perished off the very next delivery and Renegades lost two more quick wickets to slip to 78 for five in the 13th over before Bravo arrived to rescue the innings.
He belted four fours and three sixes, dominating a 66-run, sixth wicket stand off 35 balls with Tom Beaton who lashed 29 from 18 deliveries.
In reply, Stars slipped to 62 for two in the eight over to leave the contest open until Pietersen settled the issue in a 94-run, unbroken third wicket partnership with Peter Handscomb who struck 39 from 30 balls.
The right-handed Pietersen faced 43 balls and crunched five fours and three sixes.
