GADES OUT FOR REVENGE
MELBOURNE Renegades have set themselves the goal of spoiling the finals chances of other BBL teams, starting with the Stars in Wednesday night’s derby at Marvel Stadium.
With their top-five hopes shot after a poor season, the last-placed Renegades intend to play the role of party poopers in their last three matches, with Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes also on their hit list.
“It would be great to disrupt their finals chances,” Renegades paceman Kane Richardson said of his side’s aim in their return clash against the Stars.
“That’s the goal now for all the teams we play in our last three games ... especially (against) the Melbourne Stars. All I want to see is a team that competes. Scrapping until the last ball, that’s all you can ask.”
The Stars beat the Renegades by six wickets at the MCG last Sunday.
Despite his side’s defeat, Richardson said being competitive was “a big tick for our group”.
“We walked off with our heads held high. We want to win, so we get an opportunity (on Wednesday) night to get that right,” he said.
“You want reward for the work as well. You want to see guys get the benefit for that work.”
Stars opening batsman Andre Fletcher said his side was eager to land another knockout blow on the Renegades.
“Coming into this tournament, I was told this would be one of the biggest games, Renegades versus the Stars,” the Grenada-born 33-yearold said.
“I’ve (now) seen it. “There’s plenty of energy, so the guys, we are looking forward to it, and we are looking to give that second punch and seal things up.
“We’re trying our best to be in a top-two position where we can get two bites at the pie (in the finals). “Our confidence is high.” Fletcher was struck in the arm by Richardson while batting on Sunday, but he said he was fit to play on Wednesday.
“I went to have an X-ray on it and no fracture, so it’s good for me and for my team,” he said.
Fletcher has two more matches for the Stars before he leaves the BBL to play in the Abu Dhabi T10 League for the Bangla Tigers.
“It will be great for us to win these next two games so I can leave on a high,” he said.
“And also I would love to contribute as much as possible to see if I can also leave on a high for myself — and hopefully my team can make it to the finals and win the cup.”