Renegades strike out against Strikers in Geelong

THE Big Bash League (BBL) returned to Geelong last week, with the Melbourne Renegades taking on the Adelaide Strikers at GMHBA Stadium.

Local hero Aaron Finch was thought to be a chance for the Renegades squad after being dropped from the Test side, but he was ultimately not part of the team that ran out onto the field on a balmy Thursday evening.

The Renegades won the bat flip and decided to bowl, but conceded 13 runs from their first over and were on the back foot from the start.

The Strikers continued to hit the Renegades bowlers all over the stadium, losing their first wicket at 60 in the seventh over.

Opener Jake Weatherald top scored for the Strikers with 71 (44), smacking six fours and three sixes (including one that landed just short of the top deck of the Hickey Stand) in a batting display that would later make him man of the match.

The Strikers finished up at 6-158 off their 20 overs.

In reply, the Renegades lost Mackenzie Harvey in the second over and Sam Harper in the third over as their team limped to 6/51 in the 10th over.

Some late flourishes from top scorer Beau Webster 33 (36), Jack Wildermuth 24 (20) and Cameron Boyce 18(8) saw the Renegades finish at 9/126, 32 runs short of victory.

The Renegades will be back at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday, January 13 in another double-header, with the WBBL side playing the Sydney Sixers and the BBL side playing the Brisbane Heat.