Chasing the Melbourne Renegades total of 170 runs, the Scorchers pair showed their class with man of the match Michael Klinger hitting 90 runs off 58 deliveries and Shaun Marsh notching 76 runs off 54 deliveries. Perth reached 171 with eight balls to spare.
The Renegades failed to threaten with the ball, meaning defending Big Bash champions Perth become the first team in the five editions of the Big Bash chase down a total without losing a wicket. The win also ranks Perth at the summit of the highest 10-wicket win registered in any domestic T20 tournament beating the previous chase of 0-165 made by Quetta Stars against the Bulls in the Pakistan Super League last year.
Melbourne were put in to bat by Perth captain Michael Klinger at the toss and made a promising start with openers Aaron Finch and Chris Gayle combining to make 98 runs in 11 overs before Gayle (41) was outfoxed by Jason Behrendorff, who stared with ball for Perth with figures of (2 wickets/ 18 runs off 4 overs). Finch eventually made an impressive 72 off 48 deliveries before he fell. Wicket Keeper Matthew Wade restored hope for the Renegades with a knock of 35. But it was good bowling and a lack of cutting edge from the home side that created their downfall, making just 48 runs in the crucial final five overs.
Australian pair Klinger and Marsh applied early pressure on the Renegades bowlers racing to 92/0 off their first 11 overs. And continued with Klinger striking seven boundaries and three maximum’s and Marsh hitting three fours and three sixes to reach their target before the end of their allotted 20 overs. Cameron Gannon was the pick of the bowlers for the Melbourne Renegades conceding 29 runs from his four over spell. Even the dependable Bradley Hogg was subjected to his worst BBL bowling figures in this rout (0 wickets/ 44 runs).
Veteran Klinger has continued his good run of form against the Renegades, having scored a century against them last year, reaching his milestone in dramatic style with a six of the final delivery.
The win for Scorchers lifts them to second place in the Big Bash table behind the Sydney Thunder having won two out of three so far. As for Melbourne Renegades, the loss sets up a critical derby at the MCG on Saturday night against the Melbourne Stars with both sides on two points from their opening three games.
