SIDDLE TAKES THREE IN RENEGADES VICTORY OVER HALES' STRIKERS

Nottinghamshire’s overseas signing for 2014, Peter Siddle, claimed three wickets in his return to Twenty 20 cricket as the Melbourne Renegades beat Alex Hales’ Adelaide Strikers by a single run in the KFC Big Bash League.

In a tense finale, Dwayne Bravo restricted the Strikers’ batsmen at the last, after Hales made a steady 32, including a pair of huge sixes swatted over square leg. Siddle finished with figures of 3-35 from his allocation. 

After winning the toss, the Renegades started strongly, openers Michael Hill and Daniel Harris posting 63 in the first eight overs, before Hales caught Hill on the boundary off the bowling of Jon Holland. Fellow opener Harris became Holland’s second victim two overs later, before Dwayne Bravo and Ben Rohrer added 71 for the next wicket.

Bravo departed for 47 after 18.3 overs, and the Strikers took three more wickets in the nine balls remaining. Tait, who had earlier accounted for the dangerous Bravo, saw off Rohrer, before Kane Richardson sent Solomon Mire and Peter Nevil back in the final over. From 143-3, the Renegades found themselves 148-6. Siddle, entering at number seven, added two, the visitors posting a total of 155-6 from their 20 overs.

If the first innings had been lacking in incident for the two Notts representatives, the second was anything but. Following a first-ball wide, Hales hammered O’Brien for six with his second on strike. At the other end, Siddle took the ball and struck immediately, Klinger flicking one straight to Bravo at point.

Hales continued well, but lost partners regularly. Darren Bravo dealt the decisive blow, having him caught by Rimmington just when he was getting into his stride.

Bravo was the Strikers’ tormenter in the final over, too. 14 required, but Bravo’s full deliveries restricted the remaining Michael Neser, who top scored with 35, and Kane Richardson enough to seal victory by a single run.

The result means that the Renegades finish sixth in the table, one place above Hales’ Strikers, meaning neither have qualified for the tournament’s knockout stages.