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The Melbourne Renegades have kept their Big Bash League finals hopes alive with a stunning one-run win over the Brisbane Heat.
In a see-sawing match in hot, humid conditions at the Gabba, the Renegades won on the final ball, with Heat tail-ender Mitch Swepson run out at the non-strikers end - after a third wide delivery of the over by Luke Rimmington.
The World Number one was shocked, falling to Mischa Zverev in 4 sets as the German outwitted him at every turn while Stan Wawrinka succeeded in 3 tiebreakers to defeat Italian Andreas Seppi and Venus Williams defeated Mona Barthel to progress to the quarter-finals.
Everton dominated against Crystal Palace as Sam Allardyce searched for his first victory as the Eagles manager. The home side coming close to scoring in the second half before Seamus Coleman stole it with a shot inside the box in the last 3 minutes of play.
Renegades remain in finals contention in bizarre end
A beyond bizarre finish saw the Renegades knock off the Heat with the final ball, a wide.
The Heat did not need to run but Swepson's communication mix-up with Mark Steketee proved costly.
It was a bizarre and breathless way to finish but it will do for the Renegades, who remain in the hunt for a top-four spot, although they need other results to go their way to qualify for next week's semi-finals.
Renegades celebrate the wicket of Jack Wildermuth. Photo: Getty Images
Sent into bat, the Renegades set the hosts a target of 200 to win after openers Aaron Finch (71) and Marcus Harris (48) combined to punish some loose bowling from the Heat's pace attack.
Brisbane looked every chance of hauling it down - at least during skipper Brendon McCullum and Alex Heazlett's sizzling second-wicket partnership of 71 off just 27 balls, which put them right on track.
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Heazlett was the first to go, holing out on the square leg boundary after hitting 28 off 12.
Then McCullum (64) succumbed to heatstroke in the 11th over, collapsing and vomiting next to the pitch, and was caught out the next over to leave the Heat at 3-119.
They never regained their momentum after that, despite gallant attempts from Ben Cutting (35) and Joe Burns (35), who smacked back-to-back sixes in the last over but fell trying to chase a third.
The sell-out crowd of 35,112 was a new record for domestic cricket at the Gabba.
And they certainly got their money's worth, with both teams explosive during their batting powerplays.
McCullum was the pick of the batsmen, hitting six fours and three sixes, and reaching his half-century off just 18 balls.
But the Renegades' slow-bowling brigade, led by Brad Hogg (1-18) and Sunil Narine (2-38), successfully applied the brakes on Brisbane's innings.
Melbourne Renegades 5-199 (A Finch 71, M Harris 48); Brisbane Heat 198 (B McCullum 64, J Burns 35).
- AAP
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