While leading the Melbourne Renegades to a seven-wicket win against the Brisbane Heat at The Gabba, Aaron Finch became the first player to reach 1,000 Big Bash League runs. Finch surpassed Michael Klinger (989 runs) of the Perth Scorchers as the competition’s leading scorer when Renegades chased down Heat’s 180-5 in 19.3 overs, with Cameron White (55) sharing a second-wicket partnership of 111 with his skipper.

Renegades Aaron Finch reaches 1,000 BBL runs

Also Read: Strikers do the double on Thunder to go 3-0 in Big Bash 2023, Match 9

Ben Cutting (30no from 14 balls) and James Hopes (24no from 12) boosted the Heat’s total with 49 runs in the last three overs, but Finch and White’s pyrotechnics, as well as lusty late blows from Dwayne Bravo (22no from nine), doomed the hosts. Renegades limited Heat to 33-1 in six powerplay overs, with the visitors bowling 21 dot balls out of 36 after being called to the field by the 2012/13 champions. Lendl Simmons (29), Heat captain Chris Lynn (35) – the BBL‘s top six-hitter – and Nathan Reardon (28) pushed the pace, with Lynn’s two maximums bringing his total to 43 from 32 games, six more than second-placed Finch.

Also Read: Hobart Hurricanes beat Perth Scorcher by 8 runs in Big Bash 2023, Match 8

Also Read: Melbourne Renegades beats Sydney Thunder by 4 wickets in Big Bash 2023, Match 7

Heat’s only bowler to be dismissed in the first 17 overs was Big Bash debutant Guy Walker (0-47), with Xavier Doherty (2-29) and Bravo (1-30) both excelling. But it all changed at the end when Cutting and Hopes went wild, with Cutting smashing Nathan Rimmington over the ropes and Finch dropping a dolly in the midst of the chaos. Finch quickly put that mistake behind him, scoring his sixth BBL fifty from 33 balls and blasting six fours and three sixes before edging Andrew Fekete (2-44) to fine leg in the 17th over.

Also Read: Perth Scorchers beat Sydney Sixers by 38 Runs in Big Bash 2023, Match 6

Also Read: Sydney Thunder register record low in loss to Strikers,15 all-out in Big Bash 2023, Match 5

Renegades needed 32 runs from the last three overs when Mark Steketee removed White following the ball, but replacement batter Bravo refused to panic, striking Steketee for a pair of maximums and a boundary before Matthew Wade (11no) clinched the visitors’ triumph by drilling Hopes for four. Bravo’s fellow West Indian, Chris Gayle, too shone briefly on his Renegades debut, the left-hander smashing two sixes and two fours in a 16-ball 23 after starting with Finch.

Also Read: Melbourne Stars Beat Hobart Hurricanes By 38 Runs in Big Bash 2023, Match 4