Pitch perfect for Advertiser T20 stars
LOCAL swashbucklers Sean O’Neill and Leigh Kentish will be salivating at the idea of batting at GMHBA Stadium after last night’s power hitting in the BBL.
In what again proved a batter’s paradise — for one team anyway — Geelong spectators were treated to a runfest from Brisbane’s top order.
Teenager Max Bryant did not hesitate in inflicting immediate damage on the Renegades, belting 44 off 24 balls, including eight fours, to give the visitors the fast start before New Zealand champion Brendon McCullum hit the home side to all parts of Kardinia Park.
In an innings that resembled Jake Weatherald’s clinical 71 off 44 at the same venue 10 days earlier, McCullum (69 off 43) clunked a match-winning five sixes and four fours, including a huge maximum over cover against off-spinner Mohammad Nabi.
It was spin that looked like it would restrict the onslaught after Bryant and McCullum slammed the Renegades quicks for 65 runs in the first five overs, but the Kiwi veteran and captain Chris Lynn (66 not out off 44) went after Nabi and Cameron Boyce in the 13th, 14th and 15th overs to crush the score record at GHMBA Stadium.
In fact, Brisbane’s 4 -192 was the third highest this season following scores of 3-196 and 6-193 at Hobart between the Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder last month, highlighting the road produced by curators.
But the Renegades never stood a chance, especially without Colac star and shortform specialist Aaron Finch.
Test opener Marcus Harris (two off seven) mis-hit an attempted slog to cow corner in the third over to see the ’Gades fall behind the required run rate.
By the end of the powerplay, the home side’s 3-29 was well shy of the Heat’s 0-67 at the same stage.
The truth, however, is the Heat bowled much better than the Renegades and set better fields, learning from its innings at the crease.
While Joe Mennie’s short balls were dispatched by McCullum regularly, the Heat took the pace off the ball under lights to deny the ’Gades boundaries.
They used three overs of spin inside the first six to restrict the scoring and bowled a lot more slower balls, with two drawing soft dismissals for Josh Lalor.
In the end, the Renegades either were caught trying to chase an insurmountable target or were pinned lbw trying to keep the run rate ticking over, succumbing to their second disastrous loss in Geelong in as many weeks.
The result leaves the Renegades’ finals hopes up in the air, while the Heat can consider itself in the mix after its third win from its past four matches.
But as for GMHBA Stadium, the pitch will remain in place for the grand finals of the Geelong Advertiser Twenty20 Cup on January 20, where O’Neill’s East Belmont and Kentish’s St Joseph’s could very well square off, with their teams currently leading the GCA1 race.