Twitter Reactions: Renegades qualify for the knockouts after defending 140 against Sydney Thunder

Melbourne Renegades have become the second team to qualify for the knockouts of the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) after registering their eighth win of the season. The trend of low scores continued in the BBL this as the hosts defended 140 at the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne. The Thunders were left wanting in demanding conditions and have done no good to their chances of playing the semis with this loss.

After opting to bat first, Melbourne Renegades never looked like getting to a competitive total. They lost wickets at the regular intervals only for Mohammad Nabi to hold the innings together. At 90/7 in the 16th over, even he was sent back by the clinical bowlers of the Thunder. But then came the unexpected blitz of the day. Cameron Boyce came to bat at nine and took the attack to the opposition.

He slammed 51 runs off just 22 balls with four fours and five sixes which took the Renegades also by surprise and the opposition was shocked. Renegades added 50 runs in last 27 balls and posted a competitive total of 140 runs after 20 overs.

Holt tries his best but falls short

Sydney Thunder never looked like chasing the total down. The clinical bowling from Kane Richardson at the start of the innings and was duly backed up by Chris Tremain. The Renegades bowling attack is high on confidence after bowling out the Scorchers for 78 in the previous game and the same was visible today.

The good work done by the new ball bowlers was taken over by the spinners and Boyce was once again in the limelight. At 45/4 in the ninth over, the game looked done and dusted for the Thunder. But Baxter Holt batted well to score 37 off just 28 balls and Callum Ferguson kept the team in the hunt.

But both of them were dismissed in quick succession to end the hopes and the visitors were eventually bundled out for 113 runs falling well short of the target.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Great bowling performance by @RenegadesBBL, fitting that @CaJBoyce took the final wicket after his innings turned the game. @BBL #BBL08

— Scott Rea (@ScottRea) January 30, 2019

Cameron Boyce made the difference. 🔥#BBL08

— Cataphract (@mehdi_nisar1) January 30, 2019

Two bad overs at the death cost the Thunder big time.

Cameron Boyce & Kane Richardson lead Renegades to 6th straight win vs Thunder.#BBL #BBL08

— CricBlog (@cric_blog) January 30, 2019

50+ scores in @BBL games group by batting order
1: 99 fifties
2: 115 fifties
3: 92 fifties
4: 76 fifties
5: 37 fifties
6: 8 fifties
7: 3 fifties (Tom Curran, Beau Webster, Evan Gulbis)
8: ONE FIFTY (CAMERON BOYCE MR v ST #BBL08)
@RenegadesBBL

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) January 30, 2019

Reckon Cameron Boyce might be playing himself into Australian T20 calculations once again, he's such a dynamic cricketer and such an important weapon for @RenegadesBBL. 132 runs at a strike rate of 160, and 11 wickets at an economy of 6.12 in what has been an incredible @BBL.

— Nick Creely (@NCreely) January 30, 2019

Cameron Boyce becomes the first player batting no.8 or below to hit a fifty in the Big Bash League.

His score after 18th over: 18 (14 balls) with 1 six
In last two overs: 32 (8 balls) with 4 sixes#BBL08#MLRvSYT

— Kausthub45 (@kauSTats) January 30, 2019

Great innings Cameron Boyce @CaJBoyce 51no of 22. Smokin!!

— North Hobart Cricket Club (@NH_Dees) January 30, 2019

Cameron Boyce just taken away all my money 🙁 🙁 😢😥 #BBL08

— Bhargava B (@bhargava_badda) January 30, 2019

@CaJBoyce 😍

— Travis Birt (@T_Bird81) January 30, 2019

Cameron Boyce is all types of elite #BBL08

— Joel Blain (@joel__blain) January 30, 2019

#BBL08 Cameron Boyce shows he can bat. Boy, the Renegades and this otherwise pretty awful game needed what he did

— We Need a Sports News Fact Checker (@crowdiegal) January 30, 2019

That was seriously impressive from Cameron Boyce #BBL08

— SuperCoach Bandit (@SC__Bandit) January 30, 2019

i've always seen cameron boyce as an all-rounder. no idea why he's batting so low #bbl08

— PIG , (@savmegafan) January 30, 2019

@CaJBoyce huge power in your hand god bless you 😘 always

— Arunaralimarad (@Arunaralimarad1) January 30, 2019

What Was That from Cameron Boyce😲😲 #BBL08

— Karthik Raj (@kartcric) January 30, 2019

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