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Shaun Marsh put his former side Perth to the sword on Sunday night in his first game back from injury, blasting his fastest BBL half century.
Marsh, who has been sorely missed by the Renegades since aggravating a hamstring injury, was on from the first ball as he sent Jason Behrendorff to the boundary three times in the opening over.
And he just powered on from there, gifted by a life from young Cooper Connolly on 32.
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MATCH CENTRE: Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Renegades live scores, highlights
“It’s a dolly,” Fox Cricket’s Mark Waugh said.
“The young fella will be disappointed. He’s a live one in the field too, very energetic.”
“It’s all a learning experience isn’t it,” commentator Brett Lee added.
“He’d be so disappointed.”
Marsh showed age is no barrier as the 39-year-old continued to pile on the pain on the Scorchers, and brought up his 50 off just 26 balls.
“His third 50 at this venue and a welcome return to the Big Bash,” Lee praised.
“These are the quality players you want featuring in this tournament.
“He just does it with ease, doesn’t try to get too complicated with his batting.
“He’s quick to latch onto anything too loose.
“A really nice welcome back for Shaun Marsh.”
Marsh now sits third for all-time Big Bash half centuries, behind only Chris Lynn and Gades teammate Aaron Finch.
But as Marsh continued to motor at one end, the Renegades couldn’t find someone to go with him.
And when he fell chopping on David Payne while trying to lift the run rate, chasing a massive 213, Melbourne’s hopes started to deflate.
Earlier, Renegades all-rounder Will Sutherland has delivered one of the catches of the BBL with a diving effort to dismiss Nick Hobson as the Scorchers finished their innings with 5/212.
Perth got off to a flying start before the Melbourne side were able to stem the flow of runs by dismissing Josh Inglis and Ashton Turner for only eight runs between them.
However, Cameron Bancroft stood tall, belting 95 off only 50 balls with young gun Cooper Connolly playing an impressive supporting role in the dying overs with 20 off 11 balls.
Sutherland’s stunning catch left the Scorchers at 5/160 in the 17th over and Fox Cricket’s commentators were stunned as the tall Victorian was able to reel a ball which looked certain to fly over high head.
“What an effort that is, the Chief Sutherland somehow gets back and throws a big paw up,” Fox Cricket’s Mark Howard said.
“Somehow gets back, and that is one of the catches of the summer, Hobson can’t believe it.”
“That’s a good leap, good timing, what a feeling, just reminding the home crowd that they are still here,” Fox Cricket’s Adam Gilchrist said.
“That’s a sensational catch, that’s in the top three this season,” Fox Cricket’s Mark Waugh added.
Earlier, the Scorchers got off to a flyer, belting a staggering 62 runs from the powerplay as Renegades seamer David Moody was taken out of the bowling attack after two waist-high full tosses.
Perth opener Stephen Eskinazi smashed 10 runs off Tom Rogers’ first over, before Moody marked his run-up — hoping to swing momentum back into his team’s favour.
Moody’s first ball was a dot but his next was a beamer which went like a tracer bullet into Cameron Bancroft’s ribs — and the former Test opener crumbled to the ground after completing the run.
Moody then bowled a wide off the free-hit, before delivering yet another beamer to Eskinazi who scooped the delivery for four.
After his four deliveries, all of which were clocked over 140kmph, the 27-year-old had to hand the ball to Jack Prestwidge who also was belted for a six from his first delivery.
“He’s done. He’s been red-carded,” Fox Cricket’s Adam Gilchrist said.
Mark Waugh added: “Obviously no means to do that, so it’s very unfortunate.
“He could’ve been a handful on this pitch. A big guy at good pace.”
“Bizarre start to the game,” Fox Cricket’s Mark Howard said.
Waugh added: “Now they’re a bowler short. You have your big team talk, you go out there all keen, ‘boys let’s do the basics well’ – and it couldn’t go any worse for the Renegades early on.”
All-rounder Will Sutherland was then tasked with stemming the flow of runs before Eskinazi belted a staggering 17 runs off his over, with two fours and a six.
Off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli bowled the fourth and final over of the power play and was also dispatched, conceding 19 runs including two sixes and a four.
PRE-MATCH WRAP
The Scorchers will be desperate to extend their lead on the second-placed Sixers when they take on the Renegades at Perth Stadium.
Perth sit top of the BBL ladder with 10 wins, sitting ahead of Sydney’s nine while the Melbourne side in red were leapt by the Heat after their win over the Stars.
The Renegades will be hoping for a win to slot back into third place and distance themselves from the Thunder in fifth place.
The Scorchers battered the Strikers only two days ago, bowling the Adelaide side out for only 92 before chasing the total down in 11.1 overs as Peter Hatzoglou delivered with 3/14 from three overs.
Meanwhile, the Renegades are coming off a loss to the Thunder who were able to chase down their 142 in only 18.3 overs.
Melbourne’s star-studded batting line-up of Martin Guptill, Aaron Finch and Jono Wells will be desperate to pile on the runs.
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