Pollard fails to get his team over the line.
Adelaide Strikers edged past Melbourne Renegades in the second semifinal of Big Bash League to set up final date against Hobart Hurricanes.
Strikers won by the slimmest of the margins after Pollard failed to seal the deal of Ben Laughlin's last ball. Earlier Adelaide Strikers scored 178-5 courtesy Travis Head's unbeaten 85 of just 57 balls. He was assisted by Jake Weatherald who scored 57 from 43 balls. For Renegades Joe Mennie was the pick of the bowler conceding just 28 of 4 overs and getting 1 wicket. Dwayne Bravo was badly hit, as he went for 47 of his 4 overs.
Chasing, Renegades look well in control when Harris and Ludeman were in crease. They put up a 71 runs second wicket partnership. But with two quick wickets, Renegades lost their momentum. Finally, they ended 1 run short. Even big hitters like Pollard, Cooper and Bravo couldn't finish the job for the Melbourne squad, which would have got them to Sunday's final.
For Strikers, Rashid Khan and Travis Head were pick of the bowlers. Both took one wicket each but went for 7 runs in a match, where bowlers went for plenty. But finally all it came down to keeping nerves intact and Ben Laughlin managed to do that. Veteran of many close finishes, Keiron Pollard failed to get his team over the line.
On Thursday, Hobert Hurricanes won by 71 runs against Perth Scorchers in the first semifinal.
Scorecard:
Adelaide Strikers 1st innings Jono Dean c Kieron Pollard b Chris Tremain 19 Jake Weatherald c Jon Holland b Kieron Pollard 57 Travis Head Not Out 85 Colin Ingram c Tim Ludeman b Joe Mennie 1 Jonathan Wells b Dwayne Bravo 5 Jake Lehmann c Joe Mennie b Jack Wildermuth 2 Michael Neser Not Out 4 Extras 1b 0lb 1nb 0pen 3w 5 Total (20.0 overs) 178-5Fall of Wickets : 1-19 Dean, 2-123 Weatherald, 3-135 Ingram, 4-149 Wells, 5-159 LehmannDid Not Bat : Nielsen, Khan, Siddle, Laughlin Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Tom Cooper 3 0 28 0 9.33 Chris Tremain 4 0 36 1 9.00 2w Joe Mennie 4 0 21 1 5.25 Dwayne Bravo 4 0 47 1 11.75 1nb Jack Wildermuth 4 0 37 1 9.25 1w Kieron Pollard 1 0 8 1 8.00 ...................................................... Melbourne Renegades 1st innings Cameron White c Peter Siddle b Michael Neser 2 Marcus Harris c Jake Weatherald b Travis Head 45 Tim Ludeman c Jake Lehmann b Rashid Khan 28 Tom Cooper Not Out 36 Dwayne Bravo c Jono Dean b Ben Laughlin 26 Kieron Pollard Not Out 29 Extras 2b 3lb 0nb 0pen 6w 11 Total (20.0 overs) 177-4Fall of Wickets : 1-10 White, 2-81 Harris, 3-87 Ludeman, 4-139 BravoDid Not Bat : Wildermuth, Webster, Tremain, Mennie, Holland Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Travis Head 4 0 27 1 6.75 1w Michael Neser 4 0 45 1 11.25 2w Peter Siddle 2 0 22 0 11.00 Rashid Khan 4 0 28 1 7.00 Ben Laughlin 4 0 31 1 7.75 1w Colin Ingram 2 0 19 0 9.50 ................................ Umpire Shawn Craig Umpire Phillip Gillespie Video Greg Davidson Match Referee Robert Stratford
With Reuters inputs
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