The Hobart Hurricanes have suffered one of the all-time chokes against the Melbourne Renegades, incredibly costing themselves a spot in the finals.
The Hobart Hurricanes are out of the BBL finals, despite needing just 82 off 60 balls to win with eight wickets left.
Led by Melbourne Renegades quick Zak Evans' incredible five-for at the MCG, the Renegades have pulled off the most unlikely of victories to end the Hurricanes season in an 11-run result.
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The Renegades have done their cross-town rivals the Melbourne Stars a massive favour, to keep plenty of options alive for the final game of the BBL season.
Now the Stars need to claim all four points to steal fifth place on the ladder, while the Sixers need a single point to snatch the minor premiership from the Perth Scorchers.
The Hurricanes just needed a win to book a home finals spot but have fallen short.
The Renegades got their tails up late and Fox Cricket commentator Andrew Symonds was saying he felt a "twist" coming throughout the second innings with so much relying on the result.
Post-match, Shane Warne said there were "90,000 people" calling it "incredible scenes", "outrageous" and "insane" as he raved as his former side the Stars are now playing off to make the finals.
It was best shown by Jake Prestwidge who made a brilliant save on the boundary line.
Superman Preswidge saves a six!
— ðŸFlashScore Cricket Commentators (@FlashCric) January 26, 2021
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"There was no one within coo-ee for him to throw it to, the next neaarest fielder was probably 50m away," Symonds said.
Mike Hussey added: "That's absolutely brilliant, that's something in the last 10 years that has really improved.
With the ball, it was all Evans, who took 5/33 as he demolished the Hurricanes to keep the season alive.
The Hurricanes ended up losing 8/70 in the final 10 overs to tumble out of finals reckoning.
"I think the Hobart Hurricanes will really be kicking themselves," Hussey said. "They did a good job of restricting the Renegades. They have a powerful batting order, they had extra batsman in with the X-Factor. They got off to a good starts, but then they just seemed to meander for a little while and then they just lost their energy and intent."
The pressure appeared to get to the best of the Hurricanes.
After losing Matthew Wade and Ben McDermott early to fall to 2/29, D'Arcy Short and Dawid Malan steadied the ship but while it would just take some sensible batting, an Evans yorker ended the 41-run stand as Short was knocked over.
No other batsmen could get going as the Renegades did the job and held for the victory.
It came after the Renegades were in strife early in their innings after falling to 4/49.
But a 37-ball 40 from Mackenzie Harvey and 35-ball 54 not out from Beau Webster saved the day as the Renegades set 5/150, a score that proved too much for the Hurricanes.
Needing a Renegades win, the Stars' captain Glenn Maxwell said it had been a nervous day as his side needs an assist to keep their season alive.
But while talking to Fox Cricket, Maxwell was on hand to deliver live reaction to D'Arcy Short's wicket, something that could give the Stars a sniff.
Zak Evan pitched a perfect yorker to go straight through Short.
"That's handy," Glenn Maxwell said.
However, they'll need more than that to pull of the win with the Hurricanes needing 79 off 54 to win.
The Melbourne Renegades' total of 5/150 could prove tricky for the Hurricanes.
The early wickets of Matthew Wade and Ben McDermott hurt the Hurricanes early but D'Arcy Short and Dawid Malan righted the ship to be 2/69 off 10 overs.
It leaves 82 off 60 balls but while it doesn't seem to be too huge, it could get tricky with Hobart needing to win to claim a spot in the finals.
It comes after a Mackenzie Harvey and Beau Webster saved the day to take the game from 4/49 to 5/112 before Harvey was dismissed.
The Renegades reached 5/150 off the 20 overs.
And it will come down to the Renegades win to keep the Stars' season alive.
If not, it will see the Sixers chasing the top spot on the ladder.
Aaron Finch's BBL season has finished with a seven-ball six, another quick innings that didn't go anywhere.
He just skied a ball from Riley Meredith that went straight up in the air.
Mike Hussey said "disappointing for Aaron Finch" as he completely mistimed the shot.
But there was some interest in Meredith's front foot with his heel only just landing behind the line.
Finch was called back for a second, giving him hope, but was then given his marching orders.
"So he's walked back for the second time. That's just rubbing salt into the wounds, isn't it?" Mel Jones said in commentary.
A win for Hobart will secure a spot in the top five.
Getting all four points would push them to equal with the Thunder on 31 points, but they have a vastly inferior run rate and would finish fourth.
It would mean they would host The Eliminator against the Heat.
A loss would see the Hurricanes miss the finals.
But it would keep the Stars alive in the competition although they would need to claim all four points against the Sixers who need to win to claim the top spot on the ladder.
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