Ollie Peake has survived a contentious overturned catch to smash a last-ball six to seal a four-wicket win for the Melbourne Renegades over the Perth Scorchers.
After knocking the Scorchers over for 127 from 19.2 overs at Perth Stadium on Wednesday night, the Renegades almost made a meal of the modest chase before 19-year-old Peake came to their rescue.
With four runs to win off the last ball, Peake shimmied across in premeditated fashion and paddled Aaron Hardie’s full delivery over fine leg deep into the stands.
The Renegades’ pursuit had looked forlorn in the 17th over when Peake was given out for 15 with a soft signal after Scorchers captain Ashton Turner snared a difficult tumbling catch.
But Peake was reprieved — and subsequently booed by the parochial Perth crowd — after replays showed the ball touched the ground while in Turner’s hand as he somersaulted backwards.
“In the moment, I didn’t know I had put it [the ball] on the ground,” Turner told ABC Sport.
“But it’s one of those ones that I think anyone watching knows is out. That’s a catch.
“But technically, the correct decision was made. That’s how the rules are laid out. The officials made the correct call.
“It doesn’t make it less frustrating. I think if that’s in the backyard and your brother hits it up, he’s walking off the field.”
Ollie Peake showed cool nerves to guide the Renegades home. (Getty Images: James Worsfold)
Peake — who headed straight from the ground to the airport bound for Africa, where he will captain Australia at the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup — described the finish as “surreal”.
“To do it here in front of all the Scorchers fans is pretty special and what you grow up dreaming of doing,” said Peake, who finished 42 not out.
“I had a bit of luck and [I’m] just happy that it all paid off tonight.”
After Josh Brown (22) teed off early, the Renegades were cruising at 1-51 from six overs before being restricted to 4-23 from the next eight.
At one stage, 50 balls passed without a boundary before Peake dominated a 42-run sixth-wicket stand with skipper Will Sutherland (15) and rode his good fortune to finish his BBL campaign on a stunning high.
Earlier, Renegades teammate Gurinder Sandhu snared 4-28 to take his season tally to 14 wickets at 14.71, moving into top position on the Golden Arm leaderboard.
Hardie (44) was scratchy but top-scored for the Scorchers, who wobbled early and crashed hard late, losing 5-11 from 17 deliveries.
AAP/ABC