Sunil Narine keeps Renegades in hunt
BRISBANE, Australia (CMC): WEST INDIES off-spinner Sunil Narine grabbed two wickets in a brilliant penultimate over as his Melbourne Renegades snatched an exciting one-run victory over Brisbane Heat, to remain in play-off contention in the Big Bash League on Friday.
With Heat requiring 26 runs from the last two overs in pursuit of 200 for victory at the Gabba, Narine struck off the first ball of the 19th over when he removed Marnus Labuschagne (1) to a catch in the deep off a top-edged slog-sweep.
Three balls later with as many runs added, Narine accounted for Jack Wildermuth for a first-ball duck, caught by wicketkeeper Andrew Harriott running around to silly point as the batsman miscued an attempted big hit.
Pivotally, Narine conceded just eight runs from the over, leaving Heat under pressure to get a challenging 18 runs off the last.
CONSECUTIVE SIXES
Hope flickered briefly when Joe Burns (35) lashed two consecutive sixes off seamer Nathan Rimmington (2-37), but with three needed from the last ball, Mitchell Swepson was dramatically run out off a wide as Heat were dismissed for 198 with one delivery remaining.
Narine finished with two for 38 to take his tally for the tournament in eight matches to 13 wickets.
Opener New Zealander Brendon McCullum stroked 64 from 40 deliveries to get Heat off to a flyer while Ben Cutting chipped in with 35.
Earlier, captain and opener Aaron Finch slammed 71 off 35 deliveries, posting a swift 106 for the first wicket with Marcus Harris who struck 48, as Renegades got off a great start.