First ball ‘duck’ for Samuels as Renegades finally lose

PERTH, Australia,  CMC – West Indies stroke-maker Marlon Samuels suffered the indignity of a first ball ‘duck’ as his Melbourne Renegades crashed to their first loss of the Australian Big Bash here today.

Playing at the WACA, Perth piled up 187 for three off their 20 overs after they were sent in and then reduced the visitors to 136 all out off 19.1 overs, to carve out a handsome 51-run triumph.

Samuels was one of three wickets to fall for 24 runs off the first 25 deliveries of the innings, as seamers Alfonso Thomas (4-8) and Jason Behrendorff (3-44) scythed through the Renegades top order.

Entering at the fall of Aaron Finch’s wicket at the end of the second over, Samuels departed three balls later, caught at the wicket off one from Thomas that seamed away.

Ben Rohrer resisted with 52 from 33 balls but the Renegades batting collapsed around him.

Earlier, Perth were lifted by spectacular half-centuries from openers Shaun Marsh (85) and Herschelle Gibbs (56), who put on 78 off 57 balls to help the hosts to their eventual total.

Samuels went wicket-less in four overs of off-spin that cost 35 runs.