West Indian Dwayne Bravo starred with bat and ball to inspire the Melbourne Renegades to a one-run triumph against the Adelaide Strikers in Wednesday night’s Big Bash League match.
Man of the match Bravo cracked 47 from 33 balls in the Renegades’ 6-155 at Adelaide Oval, then claimed two key wickets as the Strikers mustered 7-154 in reply.
Bravo helped derail Adelaide’s run chase, snaring the prized scalps of Alex Hales (32 from 25 balls) and captain Johan Botha for a duck just three balls later.
The Windies’ stalwart sent down eight dot balls from his initial 10 deliveries, a span which returned two wickets for two runs.
The Renegades’ Australian Test quick Peter Siddle, who took 3-35 from four overs, was in awe of Bravo.
“He has got it all, with bat and ball,” Siddle said of his teammate.
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’.
Bravo’s first victim with the ball was Adelaide’s English import Hales, whose lacklustre BBL campaign ended in disappointing fashion.
Hales, who entered the BBL as the world’s top-ranked Twenty20 batsman, made just 149 runs for the Strikers, without a half-century, at an average of 21.87.
The Englishman’s failures mirrored that of his Adelaide outfit, who have never made the finals in three BBL tournaments.
The Renegades will also miss this year’s finals despite Bravo’s heroics.
The West Indian smacked four sixes as he top-scored in a consistent batting effort from the Renegades.
Openers Michael Hill (30 from 24 deliveries) and Dan Harris (31 from 32 balls) built a solid platform with a 63-run opening stand.
Bravo and Ben Rohrer (30 from 24 balls) cashed in, reaching a half-century partnership from just 34 deliveries.
Adelaide spinner Jon Holland was the pick of their bowlers with 2-19 from four overs while pacemen Shaun Tait and Kane Richardson each took two wickets.
