‘Not a good night’: Renegades run riot in Hurricanes’ nightmare start to BBL campaign in all-time low

The Melbourne Renegades have enforced a demolition of the highest order on the Hobart Hurricanes in Geelong on Wednesday night, winning by six wickets in their chase of a franchise record-low target of just 75 runs.

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The purple brigade were bowled out by the Sydney Sixers for 91 all the way back in 2015, but tonight’s dismal effort at GMHBA Stadium down in Geelong well and truly eclipsed that record.

Things went pear-shaped from the get-go for Jeff Vaughan’s side, with retired Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade nicking off in the second over.

It was Tasmania domestic seamer Tom Rogers who first wreaked havoc on Hobart, taking the first three wickets of the match to also see the back of Mitch Owen and Ben McDermott; who departed first ball via a chip to short mid-wicket.

Geelong’s pitch — which forced the abandonment of a Big Bash game last year due to safety concerns — was evidently slow-paced, with the Renegades seamers taking full advantage of the conditions.

Gun bowling all-rounder Fergus O’Neill was next to cash in, taking three wickets in his second over; including that of Tim David (second-ball duck) and England veteran Chris Jordan (golden duck), who was undone by a brilliant leg-side catch from Kiwi keeper Tim Seifert.

Reeling at 6/32, the Hurricanes were already on the cusp of a premature loss, but Will Sutherland ensured that the match’s result was beyond doubt with three more wickets in succession.

Australian star Adam Zampa put the final nail in the coffin of Hobart by bowling Billy Stanlake, and officially handing the Hurricanes their worst-ever team total in 14 seasons of Big Bash cricket.

Hobart captain Nathan Ellis was the only batter who could hold his head high amid his side’s catastrophic collapse, whacking a quick-fire 35 runs off 26 balls that included five fours and one six.

“This is not a good night for the Hurricanes,” Fox Cricket’s Mark Howard said on commentary after Shai Hope departed in the eighth over, when his undisciplined shot found cow corner.

As expected, Jake Fraser-McGurk started his innings with a bang — timing a beautiful square drive through the field for four off the first ball of the Renegades’ chase.

His innings was short-lived after chopping on Billy Stanlake for five, but his replacement at the crease Seifert inflicted plenty of damage instead, fresh off his 55 on BBL debut against the Sydney Sixers on Monday.

He stayed at the crease right until the end for red ink, hitting 37 off just 19 balls; a fine knock that included four fours and two sixes.

Mackenzie Harvey also finished not out with 10 runs from eight balls, as the Renegades chased down 75 in just nine overs.

PLAYING XI

Melbourne Renegades: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Brown, Tim Seifert (wk), Jacob Bethell, Laurie Evans, Mackenzie Harvey, Will Sutherland (c), Fergus O’Neill, Tom Rogers, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson

Hobart Hurricanes: Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Owen, Shai Hope, Ben McDermott, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Chris Jordan, Nathan Ellis (c), Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake, Waqar Salamkheil

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