Hurricanes choke in BBL calamity to miss finals against Renegades

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.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 26: Zak Evans of the Renegades celebrates after dismissing Riley Meredith of the Hurricanes during the Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Renegades and Hobart Hurricanes at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on January 26, 2021, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

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!

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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.

What a moment to save your team.

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.

The turning point in the Hurricanes chase.

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.