Cameron Boyce creates history but Renegades on wrong end of one-run thriller

Leg-spinner Boyce became the first player to take four wickets in four balls in a Big Bash game

MCG: Sydney Thunder 170-8, Melbourne Renegades 169-7 – Sydney Thunder won by 1 run

Usman Khawaja made a triumphant Big Bash return, top-scoring for Sydney Thunder as they secured a top-three finish with a dramatic one-run win over Melbourne Renegades.

Playing his first game since his memorable Ashes recall, Khawaja hit a fluent 77, though Cameron Boyce's 5 for 21, including a BBL-first four wickets in four balls, restricted the Thunder to 170 for 8.

Aaron Finch's 82 carried Melbourne to the brink of victory, but Gurinder Sandhu defended nine off the final over to snatch the win.

The result confirmed the Thunder's place in the second playoff phase, the Knockout, where they will meet the Eliminator winner, either Adelaide Strikers or Hobart Hurricanes. Renegades finish bottom for the second successive season.

Khawaja quickly adjusted to the shorter format, with the strong back-foot game prominent against England at the SCG present again here.

He put on 80 in seven overs for the first wicket with Alex Hales (44), but hopes of a huge total began to fade when the Englishman departed to Boyce.

And the momentum soon shifted dramatically, as Boyce dismissed Sangha (2), Alex Ross and Daniel Sams (both golden ducks) to become the first BBL player to take four wickets in four balls.

^{Usman Khawaja carried his Ashes form into his Big Bash return (Mike Owen/Getty Images)}

The Thunder were 93 for 5 when Boyce got his fifth victim, Matthew Gilkes (2), in the 11th over, before Khawaja guided them to respectability over the remainder of his 51-ball innings.

After the loss of James Seymour (2) to Sandhu in the first over, Finch rebuilt first with Shaun Marsh (19) and Unmukt Chand (29).

Australia's white-ball captain appeared to have anchored the innings to perfection with only 13 needed off the last two overs.

However, Sams' excellent 19th over, full of slower balls, gave Sandhu something to defend.

And after an ordinary fielding display, the Thunder delivered at the death, with Sangha running out Sam Harper before an excellent diving catch from Sams concluded Finch’s 64-ball stay.

Will Sutherland hit a six to make the equation three of two, but Sandhu held his nerve.

He finished with figures of 3 for 33, while Sangha (2 for 32) and Sams (1 for 22) delivered impressive figures.