BBL: Cameron Boyce, Kane Richardson power Melbourne Renegades to semi-finals

Cameron Boyce s unbeaten 22-ball 51 coupled with Kane Richardson s three wickets started in Melbourne Renegades 27-run victory over Sydney Thunder in a Big Bash League (BBL) match on Wednesday. With the win, the Renegades become the second team to qualify for the semi-finals. (ALSO READ: Henriques, Dwarshuis lead Sydney Sixers to crushing eight-wicket win over Adelaide Strikers)

Opting to bat, the home side slipped to 50/4 inside the first 10 overs. Captain Aaron Finch too couldn t bail his side out after departing for just 10 off Chris Jordan in the sixth over. It took a fine 50-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Boyce and Richardson to steer the innings to safety as Renegades finished at 140/7. Afghanistan batsman Mohammad Nabi chipped in with a useful 36 off 34.

Boyce s imperious knock was laced with five sixes and four boundaries as he occupied most of the crease during the match-winning partnership.

Renegades took the momentum to their bowling as well. Richardson provided the early breakthroughs accounting for the wickets of openers Shane Watson (4) and Jason Sangha.

Callum Ferguson and Baxter Holt did get starts, but Daniel Christian and Harry Gurney applied the brakes in the middle overs. In the end, Sydney Thunder were skittled for 113 in 19.1 overs. (ALSO READ: Tremain, Christian power Melbourne Renegades to 78-run win)

Richardson was the pick of the bowlers for Renegades returning with figures of 3/27 in his four overs. Boyce contributed with the ball as well, pocketing 2/17 in 3.1 overs.

Brief scores: Melbourne Renegades 140/7 in 20 overs (Cameron Boyce 51*, Mohammad Nabi 36; Jonathan Cook 2/18, Fawad Ahmed 2/22) beat Sydney Thunder 113 in 19.1 overs (Baxter Holt 37, Callum Ferguson 28; Kane Richardson 3/27, Boyce 2-17) by 27 runs