Mujeeb, Fraser-McGurk and Marsh star in Renegades' first win

Having gone without a win in their first five matches (including a game that was called off due to a dangerous pitch), Melbourne Renegades finally registered a victory as they overcame Adelaide Strikers by 4 wickets on Friday (December 29). Chasing 178 for victory at the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, the Renegades got over the line with eight deliveries to spare thanks to half-centuries from Jake Fraser-McGurk and Shaun Marsh.

The Renegades did not have the best of starts in the chase as Quinton de Kock was dismissed for a golden duck and Joe Clarke retired hurt after the fourth over due to what appeared like a hamstring problem. But the Renegades had made a quick start and continued to find regular boundaries as Fraser-McGurk reached a 22-ball fifty with two sixes off D'Arcy Short in the seventh over. Marsh, who made a watchful start, got into the act with two sixes and a four off successive deliveries in the ninth over off Cameron Boyce. At the halfway stage of their innings, the Renegades were comfortably placed at 106/1.

Fraser-McGurk, who was dropped by Adam Hose off Wes Agar when he was on 56, struck a six and a four in the same over before a yorker from James Bazley ended his stay on 70. Marsh then took over, registering his second successive half-century but the Strikers kept themselves in the hunt with quick strikes. Clarke returned to the crease and along with Marsh, took them closer to the target. However, with the scores level, Marsh was dismissed by David Payne and Clarke retired hurt again. The Renegades eventually got over the line in the 19th over to get their first win on the board.

Earlier, after opting to bat, the Strikers lost skipper Matthew Short early but a second-wicket partnership worth 82 runs gave them a good platform. Short in fact struggled to get going in the association and it was Chris Lynn who did the bulk of the big hitting as he got to a 25-ball fifty with his fourth six. Lynn also struck four fours in his knock before Mujeeb Ur Rahman ended his stay and also accounted for Jake Weatherald to finish with 3 for 20.

Short, who was on 29 off 33 at that stage, finally got going while Jamie Overton also struck some lusty blows to help the Strikers make good progress. Short got to his fifty with a six off Will Sutherland but fell off the very next delivery. Overton and Harry Nielson put on 24 off only 9 balls towards the end to help the Strikers finish with 170-plus, which however proved insufficient in the end.

Brief scores: Adelaide Strikers 177/6 in 20 overs (Chris Lynn 56, D'Arcy Short 54; Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3-20) lost to Melbourne Renegades 178/6 in 18.4 overs (Jake Fraser-McGurk 70, Shaun Marsh 54; David Payne 3-37) by 4 wickets.