Agar the hero as Scorchers down Renegades
Ashton Agar played out every youngster's dream cricket scenario when he belted a six off the last ball to secure a dramatic win for the Perth Scorchers over the Melbourne Renegades.
After losing star import Dwayne Bravo to a hamstring injury, Renegades skipper Aaron Finch bowled the last over at Etihad Stadium with the visitors needing nine runs for the win.
Finch had the 26,112 fans in attendance on their feet when he dismissed Mitch Marsh (34 off 22) and then brilliantly ran out opposing skipper Adam Voges for one run.
Agar, who hadn't faced a ball, struck a pair of twos then smashed a full toss over the deep mid-wicket fence when three runs would have sufficed.
"It was the first time I've ever been put in that situation, to be honest, and I was just glad it came off," Agar told the Ten Network.
"You've got to try and keep your head somehow and just back yourself and it came off.
"He's a part-time bowler but he's very experienced, he's cagey, he knew what he was doing.
"I had a rough idea of where he was trying to bowl with his field setting, but it went my way."
The four-wicket win continued the Scorchers' remarkable winning run against the Renegades.
They've never lost to Melbourne's red team in the BBL, even when the Renegades topped the league heading into the finals in BBL02 the only game they lost was to bogey side Perth.
Michael Klinger was again a thorn in the Renegades' side.
In the corresponding fixture last year, he blasted an unbeaten 90 in a 171-run partnership with Shaun Marsh in the first 10-wicket win in BBL history.
His 72 from 55 balls on Thursday night was subdued in comparison, but no less important for the Scorchers, who are 2-1 after three games.
"I think it's just a bit of a coincidence that it happened like that, but it is a great ground and a great atmosphere to play in," Klinger said of his impressive recent record at the venue.
"The last couple of years here have been ok ... hopefully this will keep going against some other teams in the tournament."
