PERTH, Australia, CMC – Not even a dashing cameo from West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell could prevent Melbourne Renegades from a 35-run defeat to Perth Scorchers, in the Big Bash League on Boxing Day.
Chasing a challenging 193 for victory at the WACA, Renegades finished on 157 for nine from their 20 overs, with Russell top-scoring with 43 from just 21 deliveries.
West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, at the centre of swirling debate in the Caribbean over his axing from the one one-day squad, failed with 13.
Renegades slipped to 43 for three in the eighth over before Bravo and Callum Ferguson, who hit 39, added 38 for the fourth wicket to steady the innings.
Bravo eventually holed out to long-off in the 13th over off left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, paving the way for Russell’s fireworks.
The right-hander struck two fours and four sixes as he attempted to lift Renegades to an improbable win.
Dropped on 12 off seamer Yasir Arafat, Russell dominated the latter overs before being bowled off the last ball of the game by the same bowler.
Earlier, Russell finished wicket-less from three overs which cost 26 runs while Bravo’s four cost 48 runs and yielded one wicket, as Perth raced to 192 for three off their 20 overs.
Opener Michael Klinger top scored with 105 while fellow opener Marcus Harris got 53, in a 103-run stand for the first wicket.
