BRAVO, GEELONG
Geelong makes a perfect pitch
GEELONG’S bid for more Big Bash cricket could not have been stronger with GMHBA Stadium last night hosting its biggest sporting crowd excluding an AFL match.
A record 23,586 fans watched the Melbourne Renegades demolish a hapless Sydney Sixers outfit, with all but the top level of the Players’ Stand packed to the rafters.
The Ford Stand and Gary Ablett Terrace resembled a page out of the children’s puzzle book Where’s Wally, with spectators young and old decked out in a sea of red.
Their alliance was clear as the home side collected eight of a possible 10 wickets before Colac’s own Aaron Finch and former international cricketer Cameron White blasted boundaries to all parts of the ground.
Finch logged GMHBA Stadium’s first BBL half-century before a direct-hit run out ended his night just short of a historic win.
But the result meant very little in the city and venue’s bid to host more Big Bash cricket next summer.
Geelong cricket fans played their part by turning out in droves — with vacant seats most likely left unattended by Renegades members — sending a message to cricket’s hierarchy that we want more world class sport in this city.
Veteran cricketer Kevin Pietersen, who’s played cricket all around the world, heaped praised on the stadium, in particular the lights, which he labelled the best in Australia.
It was the near-perfect entertainment package that could have only been topped with a more competitive game of cricket.
On the field, the only fireworks in the Sixers’ innings were coming off the top of the Hickey Stand — literally — every time the Renegades claimed a scalp.
It only took four balls for the home side to strike, removing Peter Nevill for a golden duck.
The Sixers managed just one boundary in their powerplay, and barely improved upon their 2-20 off six overs when they reached the halfway point of the innings at 3-39.
Dwayne Bravo lit up the Zinger bails in the 13th over when he threw them down at the nonstrikers’ end with Nic Maddinson short of his ground, and the Sixers’ season continued to crumble.
Sean Abbott and Daniel Sams both hitout before Sam Billings and Ben Dwarshuis were dismissed in similar fashion.
Only Johan Botha could made batting look easy in the first dig, scoring 32 off 23 including the only six for the men in pink, coming in the final over to the longest boundary.
The pitch copped its share of criticism on social media, but the Renegades showed it was ready for runs making light work of the Sixers’ 8-111.
They raced to 1-39 in their powerplay, with out of form skipper Aaron Finch finding some touch in the sixth over.
He smacked debutant Mickey Edwards back over his head for a signature straight drive six, before blasting consecutive fours to put his side well ahead on the score worm.
Cameron White then went down on one knee to dispatch spinner Will Sutherland for another maximum and two balls later played a deft reverse sweep to find the boundary at third man.
With the result essentially determined, the swollen crowd enjoyed another Australian cricket tradition — the Mexican wave.
It would have been a sight to behold for the Renegades, Cricket Victoria and Kardinia Park Trust powerbrokers, who will surely be in negotiation soon to return next summer.
HOMETOWN hero Aaron Finch led the Melbourne Renegades onslaught as Sydney Sixers slumped to a potentially season-ending eightwicket BBL defeat in Geelong last night. Set a target of just 112 after winning the toss and sending the Sixers in to bat, the Renegades cruised to victory in front of 23,586 at Kardinia Park with 27 balls to spare. It was the highest crowd for a non-AFL sporting event at the venue.
Colac-born Finch, who plays Premier Cricket at the adjacent Geelong Cricket Ground, cracked two sixes on the way to 51 off 38 balls - surging back into form after a modest opening to his BBL season of three single-figure scores.
The Renegades skipper departed courtesy of a sharp Jason Roy runout after bringing up his 15th BBL half-century.
Evergreen Cameron White chipped in with an unbeaten 49.
Debutant Mickey Edwards copped the worst of the damage, going for of 0-31 off three overs.
It was the Sixers’ fifth loss from as many games, leaving them little hope of making the finals unless they win every remaining clash.
Adding to the Sixers’ woes, batsman Nic Maddinson left the ground during the Renegades innings with an apparent shoulder injury.