Shakib’s Big Bash ends

World’s top ranking all rounder Shakib Al Hasan played in 4 matches in the Big Bash and won 2. But his team Melbourne Renegades lost 5 out of 8 matches they played. Renegades faced Adelaide Strikers to get the ticket of semi final Monday. But it ended up losing the match.

The Renegades needed to win their final group game to stand any chance of making the knockout stages, but their loss at the Etihad Stadium means Melbourne Stars and Sydney Sixers have now secured last-four berths alongside the already-qualified Strikers and Perth Scorchers.

Head (71 off 34 balls) was the architect of Renegades’ downfall, blasting four sixes and seven fours as Strikers racked up a total of 166-5 from their 20 overs after initially sinking to 25-3.

Johan Botha’s team then restricted the Renegades to 144-7 to wrap up their sixth win in eight Big Bash games and secure top spot in the table heading into this weekend`s semi-finals.

Renegades began brightly, removing Strikers openers Craig Simmons (15) and Tim Ludeman (4) as well as Ryan ten Doeschate (2) before the sixth over had been completed.

But Head then lit up Melbourne, going particularly berserk in the 12th over when he bludgeoned England’s Ben Stokes for three consecutive sixes, two over midwicket and another over extra cover.
The 21-year-old put on 90 in nine overs with Big Bash debutant Kelvin Smith (41 off 34) and Strikers continued to rack up the runs after Head was caught by Stokes slog-sweeping to deep midwicket, with Botha (32 off 19) playing a late cameo.

Renegades then made a faltering start to their reply, losing Alex Doolan and Callum Ferguson to slip to 23-2, though Matthew Wade (22) and top scorer Stokes (33) combined to add 50 for the third wicket.

Stokes clubbed three sixes and a four before he was pouched looking to heave over long on and while Ben Rohrer (17) and Shakib Al Hasan (22) contributed and Tom Beaton (23) thumped two maximums in a glittering 11-ball knock, the hosts fell short.