Jake Fraser-McGurk took an all-time hanger before James Pattinson delivered a nerveless final over to hand the Melbourne Renegades a first-up KFC BBL win over Adelaide Strikers
Match Report: Melbourne Renegades win by 2 runs
ScorecardFraser-McGurk soars, Gades hold nerve in thriller
Melbourne Renegades' James Pattinson held his nerve in the last over to deliver BBL|11 its first final-ball thriller after Jake Fraser-McGurk took a contender for catch of the tournament.
The veteran quick defended nine runs off the final over, conceding just six and taking a wicket, to hand the Renegades a dream start to this summer's campaign
Last summer's wooden spooners looked in trouble as Adelaide Strikers openers Matt Short and Jake Weatherald progressed the score to 45 in the fifth over in pursuit of a modest 9-153 at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday night.
But a stunning boundary catch from young gun Fraser-McGurk and an inspired spell from new recruit Zahir Khan turned the contest in the hosts favour.
The Afghanistan import, who defected from crosstown rivals the Melbourne Stars during the off-season, picked up Short (29) off his sixth delivery before Fraser-McGurk produced a specular leaping one-handed grab on the boundary to remove Weatherald (18) in Zahir's next over.
The 22-year-old Zahir then claimed Jonathan Wells (8) in his third over to finish with outstanding figures of 3-24 in a spell that turned the match for the Renegades.
When Will Sutherland took two quick wickets and Strikers batter Ryan Gibson was forced to retire hurt with a hamstring injury the hosts suddenly looked well on top.
Wickets continued to tumble but some late order hitting, boosted by the Power Surge, from Rashid Khan and Daniel Worrall pushed the visitors towards the total.
But ultimately nine off the final over proved too much for the Strikers tail-enders as Pattinson delivered the Renegades a much needed win.
Earlier, a late-innings collapse undid a promising start from the Melbourne Renegades young top order batters as the Renegades lost 6-9 in the space of 12 deliveries at the end of their innings with the Strikers experienced pace attack reeling in the good work of Mackenzie Harvey, Sam Harper and debutant James Seymour.
With injuries to key players, including Shaun Marsh and Australia's T20 World Cup winning captain Aaron Finch who was a late out, the 24-year-old Harper and 21-year-old Harvey were entrusted with opening up for the Renegades as stand-in skipper Kane Richardson won the bat flip.
It was a slowish start from the young openers with only two boundaries in the four-over powerplay as both swung hard but struggled to make contact.
Harper, who is coming off a breakout BBL|10 where he scored 351 runs at 27, broke the shackles from Peter Siddle's first ball of the tournament with a ramp just wide of the keeper for four.
Their hard running (the Renegades only hit six fours and five sixes for the innings) progressed their opening stand before Harper was out to an impressive return catch by off-spinner Matt Short.
James Seymour settles into Big Bash cricket with a first ball SIX! #BBL11 pic.twitter.com/yXA5eya1Yv— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 7, 2021