But just as they had regularly done throughout the season, the Renegades found a way as Daniel Christian (31 not out from 14 balls) blasted the hosts to their first BBL final. With 25 needed from the final two overs, Christian smacked Sean Abbott for six over long-on before being dropped in the deep by Jack Edwards the next ball. A six over deep extra cover off the final ball of the over left just seven to get from the final six balls. Superb fielding from Sixers' James Vice saving a four. Credit:AAP There was a twist left to come, with Cameron Boyce treading on his own wicket for 10 by Ben Dwarshuis off the first ball of the last over.

Kane Richardson delivered though, whacking Dwarshuis for four to deep backward point from the first ball he faced, before eventually sealing the deal with a boundary through cover. Having won the bat flip and sent the Sixers in, the Renegades let themselves down both with the ball and in the field. Early on in particular their seamers didn’t use enough variations, with Sixers openers Josh Philippe and Daniel Hughes duly inflicting punishment. Richardson is the competition’s leading wicket-taker this season and spoke during the week about how much he liked the Marvel pitch. Not so much this time though, with the South Australian’s first over going for 15 en route to the unflattering figures of 0-40 from four overs. Cameron White at the crease for the Renegades. Credit:AAP

Philippe and Hughes made hay on a wicket where the ball was coming onto the bat quicker than it had earlier in the season at this ground. However both were assisted by sloppy Renegades fielding. Marcus Harris let one through his grasp at deep backward square-leg off Chris Tremain in the third over, the result being six to Hughes. Then Sam Harper missed a stumping chance that would have removed Philippe for 38 after the Sixers gloveman was beaten by Boyce. The trend continued as the innings wore on. Mackenzie Harvey put down Jordan Silk at deep mid-wicket in the 19th over, while a misfield from Tremain and overthrow from Harper were all indicative of a Renegades side not quite on its game. With half-centuries from both openers, the Sixers reached triple figures by the end of the 10th over. A score in excess of 200 loomed, so in a sense the Renegades did well to keep the visitors to 3-180. Boyce broke through to remove both Philippe (52 from 31 balls) and Hughes (52 from 32), the leg-spinner finishing with 2-33. Even though they’d limited the damage, 180 still looked a bridge too far for a team who had relied on bit-part contributions with the bat during the season.