Aaron Finch struck two boundaries and four sixes during his knock of 54

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Melbourne Renegades captain Aaron Finch hammered a 38-ball 54 to lead his side to a 12-run win over the Sydney Thunder at the Sydney Showground Stadium.

Being put in to bat first, the Renegades were dealt a big blow on the second ball of the match as opener Cameron Boyce was caught by Chris Jordan at mid-off off the bowling of Daniel Sams for a duck.

Sam Harper fell shortly after for 12, while Tom Cooper managed to make 22 before he was dismissed by Fawad Ahmed.

Finch and Cameron White stabilised the innings with a 65-run partnership, during which Finch brought up his half-century, before he was removed by Gurinder Sandhu for 54, which came off 38 balls and included two boundaries and four sixes.

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Christian was the next to go, while White went on to score a 29-ball 40, which included a boundary and two sixes, before he was caught by Thunder captain Shane Watson at cover off the bowling of Sams.

Thanks to Finch and White, the Renegades managed to finish on 152/9 off their 20 overs.

Sams and Sandhu picked up three wickets apiece, while Jordan and Fawad chipped in with one wicket each.

Chasing 153 to win, the Thunder lost opener Anton Devcich on the third ball of their innings as he was caught by Boyce at third man off the bowling of Kane Richardson for a duck.

Watson only made one run before he was caught by Finch at cover off the bowling of Harry Gurney.

Callum Ferguson and Jason Sangha steadied things with a 64-run stand, during which Ferguson registered his fifty, before he was caught by Christian at long-on off the bowling of Boyce for 52, which came off 36 balls and included seven boundaries.

Christian with the super grab on the boundary and Ferguson has to depart!#BBL08 | @BKTtires pic.twitter.com/clU4GvT2Mx

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Even though Chris Green and Sams fell for seven and two runs respectively, Sangha continued to fight and ended up making an unbeaten 54, which came off 49 deliveries and included three boundaries and a six.

However, his and Ferguson’s efforts went in vain as the Thunder ended up falling short of their target since they finished on 140/5.

Richardson and Gurney took two wickets apiece, while Boyce claimed one.

Gurney was named Man of the Match.