Melbourne Renegades pull off freakish run outs against Adelaide Strikers

A pair of freakish run outs couldn’t save the Renegades against the Strikers at GMHBA Stadium as the Melbourne club waits to welcome back Test discard and captain Aaron Finch.

Renegades wicketkeeper Sam Harper whips off the bail to run out Strikers batsman Matthew Short. Picture: Getty Images

Aaron Finch will become Melbourne Renegades’ sixth opening batsman in as many games on Monday night.

Marcus Harris will eventually make it No.7, and that sums up the red team’s dire batting situation.

When Australian coach Justin Langer pinched Harris and Finch, the Renegades’ batting appeared as thin as a slice of prosciutto.

Tim Ludeman and Jack Wildermuth opened in the first game, then Sam Harper replaced Wildermuth, then Mackenzie Harvey replaced Harper, then Harper replaced Ludeman and last night Cameron White replaced Harper.

Strikers pair Matthew Short (left) and Jake Weatherald were run out in similar circumstances. Picture: Fox Cricket

Nothing has worked, Ludeman has been dumped from the team and steep collapses have now converted a 2-0 start into a 2-3 season.

In the past week the Renegades have posted 9/99 against the Sixers, lost 9/96 against the Stars and it was goodnight on Thursday at 6-51 after 66 deliveries.

Former selector Mark Waugh described the standard of batting against spin this season as “dreadful” and “pretty embarrassing” and he has a point.

Bash artists have been busted trying to reverse-sweep full tosses as they consistently undervalue their wickets.

The fireworks set off the GMHBA Stadium roof as the red team crawled to 100 appeared generous.

RASHID CAN

Rashid Khan grew up as an opening batsman in Afghanistan and he served a timely reminder. The world’s No.1 T20 bowler came to the crease with two overs remaining and went six, dot, four, four, one, six. Yes, Rashid the renowned mystery spinner was 21 off six balls – a strike-rate of 350 – as he boosted the Strikers to 158 when an under-par 140 looked more likely. His second six was a helicopter-type shot which flew miles. Khan, 20, then removed. And he says his younger brother is a better spinner.

No, Rashid, you’re the best. Picture: Getty

KANE UNABLE AWAY

There is no place like home for Kane Richardson. Unfortunately, he travels like a paper plane filled with rocks. Richardson has cost 113 runs in three matches away from Marvel Stadium this season – 2/39, 0/39 and last night’s 0/35. An economy rate of 9.4 runs is ugly for a renowned death bowler who Australia called on with the white ball not so long ago. Under the roof and on the tricky Marvel pitch, Richardson has taken 3/23 and 3/22 – just 5.6 per over.

RUN-OUT

Roofs or flats? Jake Weatherald and Matt Short opted for roofs – and it cost them their wickets. The explosive Adelaide Strikers batsmen were both given run-out despite their bats sliding inches over the crease after big, diving lunges. The problem was, the bats landed on the roof side, and third umpire Sam Nogajski deemed they were in the air instead of grounded as he pressed the ‘OUT’ button. And so Matt Short wasn’t short, and yet wasn’t safe. But the big blow was Weatherald, who looked in a mood to strike one back to his hometown in Darwin. Weatherald brought up his 50 (26) with a six over cow corner and finished with 71 (44) courtesy of some dynamic stroke play as he punished anything short with a crack of the wrists. Were the batsmen out? About 75 per cent of fans on a Twitter poll said the umpire got them right.

Alex Carey and Billy Stanlake in a tangle. Picture: Getty

NO-BALL MAYHEM

T20 cricket moves at a manic pace – just ask Renegades captain Tom Cooper. “I don’t even know why we have a substitute fielder,” Cooper said when the Gades conceded a no-ball and free hit for having only three men inside the circle during the power-play. The sub was supposed to come inside the ring but didn’t, a cardinal T20 sin. It was former captain Cameron White who first asked the umpire why it was a no-ball, and Cooper was eventually told by the TV commentary box the substitute was on while Pakistan bowler Usman Shinwari had his shin treated. Alex Carey blasted a straight drive into Shinwari’s shin as he completed his follow through, and a painful egg-shaped lump blew up in seconds. Ouch. Weatherald then blasted three consecutive boundaries off Shinwari’s next over before he left the field for treatment by longtime Cricket Victoria doctor Trefor James.

GEELONG RENEGADES

Geelong Renegades and Collingwood Stars? Cricket’s green team sat in on a Nathan Buckley game review this season and attended a Melbourne Storm game on the bench in the search of improved leadership qualities. And Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield revealed last night the red team has embarked a similar path, combining forces with the Cats. Dangerfield sported a Gades polo and cap – but don’t expect a cameo anytime soon. “I’m putrid (at cricket),” Dangerfield said. “I am terrible.” The Renegades-Geelong link runs deep. Coach Andrew McDonald lives in Geelong, Aaron Finch lives in Colac, Tim Ludeman plays for Geelong and assistant coach Andre Borevec coaches Geelong.

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