Big Bash League: Sydney Thunder bottle run defence as vintage Aaron Finch leads Melbourne Renegades to victory

The Melbourne Renegades have scored a four-wicket victory over the Sydney Thunder in the BBL after Aaron Finch steered them to their 175-run target with a vintage half-century.

The Renegades looked in control for much of the chase but it took an assured finish from Finch for them to reach 6-175 and claim the win at Marvel Stadium.

The hosts needed 11 runs off the final over but the Thunder’s hopes were boosted when pace bowler Gurinder Sandhu (2-51) had Akeal Hosein caught from a skied slog.

The Renegades still needed 10 runs off four balls when Finch (71 off 43 balls) took strike but the Australia T20 skipper plundered a six then kept his cool with two runs from each of the next two deliveries to finish the job with a ball to spare.

Finch helped set up the highest successful chase so far in BBL 12 alongside Renegades captain Nic Maddinson (39 off 28), while Jake Fraser-McGurk (24 off 18) also impressed early.

Daniel Sams (3-33) was the pick of the Thunder bowlers and almost turned the contest in their favour just as the Renegades looked set to cruise home.

The Thunder (1-2) won the toss and elected to bat as they looked to bounce back from a horror show in their last outing when they were all out for only 15.

Rilee Rossouw ensured the Thunder put that humiliating performance behind them with a powerful 53 off 38 balls after successfully reviewing an lbw decision when he was on 31.

Alex Ross (39 off 23) and Oliver Davies (33* off 18) put together an important 42-run partnership late in the Thunder’s innings to set the Renegades a tricky target until Finch stepped in.

Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (1-22) again opened the bowling for the Renegades and ensured the under-fire Thunder made a nervy start with a tight line in the powerplay.

Camera Icon A half-century from Aaron Finch has helped the Renegades beat the Thunder in the BBL. (Scott Barbour/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

England opener Alex Hales lifted the run rate when he smashed Hosein over the boundary to take the Thunder to the 15-run mark this time without loss, although Matthew Gilkes fell one run later.

While it was a much-improved performance from the Thunder, they will be sweating on the fitness of skipper Jason Sangha after he went to ground heavily while fielding and injured a shoulder.

The Renegades’ victory was their first over the Thunder in their past five clashes and lifts them to a 2-0 record after earning the wooden spoon in the past three seasons.