Usman Khawaja will head to India stuffed with confidence after serving to Brisbane Heat previous Melbourne Renegades by seven wickets of their BBL knockout ultimate at Marvel Stadium.
Australia’s Test opener blasted 59 from 43 balls on Sunday evening because the Heat secured victory with seven balls to spare within the Renegades’ first BBL ultimate for 4 years.
Khawaja was caught on the boundary within the sixteenth over to provide the Renegades some renewed hope of defending their whole of 5-162.
His Test teammate Marnus Labuschagne (23) departed quickly afterwards, however fellow Australia squad member Matt Renshaw (27 from 13 balls) and Sam Hain (eight not out) guided Brisbane residence.
“There’s a real great confidence in the group at the moment, it feels like everyone’s contributing and it feels like everyone’s doing a job at a certain time when needed,” Renshaw stated.
“I’m really happy with the way the group’s going because we want to be one of those teams in the future that are thereabouts every season and this is the part where you really test yourself when you lose your Test guys.”
Without star fast Kane Richardson, who missed the conflict for private causes, the Renegades bowlers had been punished to all elements of the bottom by the Heat.
Tom Rogers was the Renegades’ finest bowler with 2-33 however Brisbane’s batters took a liking to allrounder Will Sutherland (0-42).
After beating Sydney Thunder in a rain-affected first ultimate on Friday evening, Brisbane will now face the Sydney Sixers on the SCG on Thursday for a shot at making Saturday evening’s decider towards Perth at Optus Stadium.
They should battle the fancied Sixers with out Khawaja, Labuschagne and Renshaw, who all head to India this week for Australia’s Test tour.
Earlier, star Renegades veteran Shaun Marsh clubbed an unbeaten 82, his second BBL fifty of an injury-interrupted summer season, after Khawaja gained the toss and elected to bowl.
Marsh was given a life within the second over when Brisbane bowler James Bazley dropped a regulation catch.
The 39-year-old made the a lot of the likelihood, racing to his twenty fourth BBL half-century and 54th total in Twenty20s.
Marsh had strong assist from Englishman Matt Critchley (23), who belted two mammoth sixes, and wicketkeeper Sam Harper (22).
Paceman Xavier Bartlett, who has been not noted of the Heat’s line-up for nearly three weeks, was comfortably Brisbane’s finest bowler with 3-18 from his 4 overs.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
