MELBOURNE, Australia, CMC – West Indies Twenty20 stars Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo reeled off cameos but failed to prevent Melbourne Renegades from slumping to a three-wicket defeat to Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League here yesterday.
Playing at Docklands Stadium, the hosts piled up 172 for four off their 20 overs but Sixers chased down the target with seven balls to spare, to condemn Renegades to their first loss of the campaign.
Sent in, Renegades were powered by a top score of 46 from Gayle and an equally thrilling unbeaten 45 from Bravo, with Tom Beaton chipping in with a breezy 41 not out at the death.
Renegades lost captain Aaron Finch for 13 with the score on 18 for one at the end of the third over but Gayle combined with Cameron White (15) in a second wicket stand of 56 to inspire the innings.
The left-handed Gayle faced 33 deliveries and smashed three fours and three sixes as he dominated the partnership.
White fell in the 10th over at 74 for two and Gayle followed in the next over from South African off-spinner Johan Botha, holing out to deep mid-wicket.
When Matthew Wade fell for four at 94 for four in the 14th over, Renegades were fading quickly but Bravo arrived to lift the innings with a superb knock.
The right-hander counted three fours and two sixes off a mere 29 balls, adding 78 in an unbroken fifth wicket stand with Beaton who thumped two fours and two sixes off 23 deliveries.
In reply, opener Michael Lumb hammered 63 off 35 balls with four fours and five sixes while Moises Henriques struck 62 off 38 balls to propel Sixers to their target with time to spare.
Bravo proved economical, with only 22 runs coming from his three overs and five balls while Gayle’s one over cost 14 runs. Both bowlers went wicket-less.
In Hobart on Tuesday, Darren Sammy’s Hobart Hurricanes scored a 20-run win over Brisbane Heat, featuring Samuel Badree and Lendl Simmons.
In a contest at Bellerive Oval, Hurricanes piled up 184 for three off their 20 overs with opener Tim Paine hitting an unbeaten 87.
Leg-spinner Badree went wicket-less in four overs which cost 37 runs.
In reply, Heat were limited to 164 for eight with Simmons striking a four and a six in scoring 16 from 17 deliveries at the top of the order.
Sammy’s one over cost ten runs.
