A whirlwind showcase of brutality from West Indian boundary-clearing machine Andre Russell, who belted his first BBL half-century, has pulled the Melbourne Renegades out of the mire after a Michael Neser hattrick and lifted his side to a third-straight victory.
Brisbane Heat star Michael Neser returned to the Big Bash with a sonic boom, routing the Melbourne Renegades’ top order and claiming the ninth hattrick in competition history and four wickets inside eight deliveries.
However, he was overshadowed by Russell’s staggering knock as he had the last laugh in the Renegade’s four-wicket triumph in Geelong.
Melbourne made a disastrous start to their chase of the Heat’s 138 as Sam Harper handed Neser his first victim, clipping the first ball of the innings to Colin Munro for a golden duck.
It was Jake Fraser-McGurk’s turn next with the final delivery of the first over, outside edging to the keeper for six.
Melbourne were in full retreat as the in-form Nic Maddison chopped on in Neser’s second over to leave the home side reeling at 3-9 and the seamer on a hattrick.
And on the big stage, Neser delivered, beating Wells all ends up after he left a ball that seamed back into his off stump.
He was then inches away from a double hattrick as he swung one through the gate on Russell.
The craziness went up a notch as Russell threw responsibility to the wind, planting Neser over the GMHBA sign and onto the roof.
Neser had Russell on ice for the first two balls of his third over, but the larger-than-life West Indian responded with two towering sixes.
His luck held as James Bazley put him down on 31.
With Aaron Finch as an anchor, Russell plundered the Brisbane bowlers for six maximums, but one too many attempts brought about his downfall for 57 in the Power Surge.
Fellow West Indian Akeal Hosein picked up his torch with a quick-fire 30 from 19 to take the game away from the visitors before Will Sutherland hit a monster six to finish the contest.
Earlier, the Heat’s top-order was all bluster and were left red-faced after losing two poor wickets in the Power Play, started by a temperamental innings from Munro.
After a cracking slog-sweep six, he ploughed one down the ground for two before being nutmegged, attempting an awful reverse sweep.
He then returned to his usually trusty slog sweep only to haul out, attempting to cash in on the short boundary.
Max Bryant went next over to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, also trying to crash a maximum.
Sam Billings’ heart was in his mouth as the ball grabbed his outside edge first rock and flew between keeper and first slip.
Fortunately for Brisbane, the Englishman survived and combined with new recruit Matt Renshaw to put on 60.
But the drinks break came at the wrong time for the Heat, with Billings nicking off first ball back for 25, and it only got worse as Renshaw dropped the ball on his stumps.
The middle and lower order threatened to get going, but the Renegade’s bowlers’ discipline was second to none as Hosein (3-26) turned to swingers to rip through the Brisbane line-up as Tom Rogers’ golden patch continued with a career-best four wickets.
The final overs were marred by a scary knock to Jimmy Peirson in the neck, but he returned to the crease to hit a boundary over cover next ball as he rescued a total of 8-137 with 19 off the final over.
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