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Scorchers pile more BBL pain on Renegades

3 minute read

Perth have chalked up their third win of the BBL season, inflicting a seventh-straight defeat upon reigning champions Melbourne Renegades in Geelong.

SAM HARPER of the Renegades hits the ball of the Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Renegades and the Perth Scorchers at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.
SAM HARPER of the Renegades hits the ball of the Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Renegades and the Perth Scorchers at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Perth have heaped more misery on the hapless Melbourne Renegades after blitzing the reigning BBL champions by six wickets.

Set a competitive 176, the Scorchers won with six balls to spare as English import Liam Livingstone and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis (51) set the tone with a 102-run opening partnership inside 10 overs.

Livingstone's scintillating 59, which included a mammoth six onto the roof that bounced out of Geelong's GMHBA Stadium, helped Perth's finals hopes remain alive with their third win of the season.

"It's always nice when you get it clean and you don't need to run, you can just stand and admire it," Livingstone said of his epic hit.

Tuesday night's result leaves the Renegades' title defence in tatters after seven-straight defeats.

Earlier, fringe Australian quick Jhye Richardson (3-22) subdued the Renegades after Scorchers captain Mitch Marsh opted to bowl first.

A career-best 73 from wicketkeeper Sam Harper and a blazing unbeaten 59 by Beau Webster gave the Renegades an opportunity to break their drought.

The pair stepped up when their more experienced teammates faltered.

Aaron Finch's last BBL innings before he heads to India as captain of Australia's one-day team was a disaster.

The star opener was out for a golden duck after skying a ball off Jhye Richardson. He also dropped a high ball that would have dismissed Livingstone.

"We haven't taken our chances when we've had them and they cost you in this format," Finch said.

"We should've made more of a fist of it in that first powerplay."

Scorchers captain Mitch Marsh claimed family bragging rights when he dismissed older brother Shaun, who switched to the Renegades this season, for just two.

The Renegades' best bowler, Kane Richardson, is joining Finch on the plane to India in another blow for the Victorian franchise.

Perth will head home to host Brisbane Heat on Saturday night, while the Renegades are back in action on Friday night for another Melbourne derby against the Stars.

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