BRISBANE, Australia, CMC – Captain Dwayne Bravo’s three-wicket haul proved crucial as Melbourne Renegades romped into the semi-finals of the Australian Big Bash with a 26-run win over Brisbane Heat here Saturday.
Defending 187 at the Gabba, Renegades held the Heat to 161 all out with a ball to spare, to claim their sixth win of the preliminaries and finish third in the standings on 12 points.
West Indies all-rounder Bravo snatched three for 25 from 3.5 overs while fast bowler Kane Richardson led the attack with four for 35.
Seamer Chris Tremain was also among the wickets with three for 29.
Middle order batsman Alex Ross top-scored with 36 from 27 balls while Ben Cutting lashed an explosive 18-ball 35.
However, it was Bravo who struck at crucial times during the innings to hurt the Heat run chase.
After sliding to 29 for three in the sixth over, the Heat recovered courtesy of 47-run, fourth wicket stand between Ross and Matt Renshaw (22) but Bravo broke the stand, sending back Renshaw to a superb running catch at mid-off by Tom Cooper.
When Cutting and Ross tried to rebuild in a 48-run fifth wicket stand, Bravo came up trumps yet again, removing Cutting to a catch at deep square leg by Marcus Harris.
It was Bravo who sealed the critical win for Renegades when he bowled last man Mitchell Swepson for two.
Earlier, Cooper top-scored with an unbeaten 65 off 38 balls while opener Matthew Short struck 62 from 48 deliveries, and partner Marcus Harris, 42, as Renegades piled up 187 for three off 20 overs.
Short and Harris put on 75 off 58 balls for the first wicket before Cooper joined Short to add a further 83 for the second wicket.
West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard failed with one after arriving at the crease in the 18th over.