Adelaide Strikers out of playoff picture after defeat by Melbourne Renegades

Renegades are through to the knockout phase after Aaron Finch guided them to victory

Melbourne: Adelaide Strikers 142-7, Melbourne Renegades 143-4 - Melbourne Renegades win by six wickets

Scorecard

Adelaide Strikers' hopes of reaching the knockout phase of this year's Big Bash are over after an underwhelming batting effort against Melbourne Renegades cost them at Docklands.

Only Alex Carey, who hit 65 in 47 balls, made any significant contribution for Strikers, with Aaron Finch guiding Renegades to a six-wicket victory that has sealed his team's place in the playoffs.

Finch marshalled a run-chase that was stuttering at 16 for 3, following the dismissals of Martin Guptill, Shaun Marsh and Sam Harper, finishing unbeaten on 63 as Melbourne reached their 143-run target with 10 balls to spare, courtesy of a wide from Peter Siddle.

That was a fitting finish to a disappointing display from Strikers, for whom Travis Head struggled to 19 off 32 deliveries after linchpin Matt Short had offered Tom Rogers a caught-and-bowled for a three-ball duck at the top of the innings.

^{Adelaide Strikers' season is over (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)}

They never recovered from that early setback; Adam Hose fell for 11 and Colin de Grandhomme for eight as the overseas middle order misfired, while Ryan Gibson was a third victim for Fawad Ahmed, who ended with figures of 3 for 17.

In reply, Guptill's desperate tournament continued; he slog-swept Short to deep midwicket to depart for eight in the first over, having already deposited an early six. When Marsh followed up by cutting to point in the second over without scoring, Adelaide were in the game. Even more so when Harper was trapped in front by Siddle.

But Finch was accompanied by Matt Critchley, with the Englishman adding a valuable 35 before running himself out as he came back for a tight second run. Finch, though, was well into his work by then, dominating an unbroken 58-run stand with Jon Wells to ease to a vital victory.

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