Sakib al Hasan celebrated his ascension to the top all-rounders’ ranking in all formats with an amazing bowling performance, setting up a five-wicket win for Melbourne Renegades over Brisbane Heat in Big Bash at Melbourne on Tuesday. Sakib made full use of a slow wicket to return with 4-13, the second best figure of the season, and executed a run out to help Renegades dismiss Heat for a paltry 80 runs at the Docklands Stadium.
Renegades batsmen nearly spoiled his heroics by being reduced to 39-5 before Tom Beaton (31 off 16 balls) took them home with six overs to spare. Sakib was the last batsman to get dismissed making just two off three balls.
Despite his batting failure, Sakib won man-of-the-match award for his sublime bowling and fielding, which saw him also taking the final catch of Heat’s innings.
Unlike the first two matches, when Sakib opened the bowling, he came as first change and it did the trick for struggling Renegades as the Bangladesh talisman claimed two wickets in his first three balls.
He added another wicket to his tally in the next over before finishing his first spell with 3-4.
In his third over he intercepted a ball on the follow-through and ran out Andrew Flintoff to break the backbone of Heat’s batting line-up. Despite his efforts Heat found some momentum in Ben Cutting, who struck three fours to give their innings some respectability.
Renegades needed another special delivery from Sakib to stop his onslaught. Sakib bowled Cutting for 30 and then took the catch of Alastair McDermott as Heat were all out for 80 in 17.3 overs.
Renegades will face Sakib’s former side Adelaide Strikers at the MCG on January 19 in their last match of the league phase.
-With New Age input
