Melbourne Renegades pulled off a remarkable heist over hosts Perth Scorchers at the Perth Stadium, defeating them in a thrilling last-over finish on January 7, 2025. This match marked the Renegades' first victory after three attempts and brought their total to three wins within the BBL 2024-25 season.
The encounter began with Renegades' captain Will Sutherland making his mark early. He struck down the Perth Scorchers opener, Finn Allen, for 19 runs, followed swiftly by trapping Mitchell Marsh, the Scorchers' marquee player, for a first-ball duck. Sutherland’s early strikes continued to unsettle the Scorchers, with pivotal wickets taken by Tom Rogers and Kane Richardson, who dismissed the promising Cooper Connolly and Scorchers captain Ashton Turner.
The Scorchers were 63-4 at the halfway mark of their innings, struggling to recover as Adam Zampa delivered another blow, deceiving Nick Hobson with his spin. Aaron Hardie contributed with 34 runs, but the collapse continued with Rogers removing him as well. After 14 overs, they found themselves at 86 runs without their top six batters, concluding their innings at 147-8.
Much to the disappointment of the Scorchers' fans, their batting struggles were alleviated somewhat by Ashton Agar, who came to bat lower down the order. Agar emerged as the star of the innings, hitting four sixes equaling not just the Scorchers' target but adding needed excitement to the match. He ended with 51 not out, solidifying his place as top scorer for his team.
Defending the modest total, the Scorchers fast bowlers Jason Behrendorff and Jhye Richardson began strongly, dismissing Renegades' top order swiftly. Behrendorff's initial two wickets set the tone, forcing the Renegades to slump to 10-4 quite early. Despite this, the game took a turn when captain Sutherland and Tom Rogers built a formidable partnership.
Under pressure and falling behind, Sutherland’s aggressive 70 runs off 45 balls, combined with Rogers’ steady 49 not out off 31, rejuvenated the Renegades' chances. The pair stitched together 92 runs for the sixth wicket, pushing the Renegades closer to what seemed like an impossible victory. Sutherland was eventually dismissed but left the game on the verge of the chase.
With just two balls left to spare, Rogers finished the job, securing victory and eliciting cheers from the traveling Renegades supporters. This win significantly improved the team's mood as they climbed the points table, remaining at their sixth spot. The game showcased the thrilling unpredictability of the BBL and highlighted both teams' changing fortunes throughout the match.
This match not only emphasized the resilience of the Renegades but also showcased the importance of partnerships within the game. Their captain Sutherland credited teamwork saying it was about leading from the front but ensuring every player had the belief they could win. With this momentum, the Renegades are now poised to take on upcoming challenges as they look to build on their recent success and climb higher on the leaderboard.