The Sydney Sixers have reeled in a Chris Gayle-fuelled Melbourne Renegades for a second Big Bash League success in four days.
After skittling Hobart for a 95-run win on Sunday, the Sixers claimed a three-wicket win on Wednesday night.
English veteran Michael Lumb was Sydney's hero, wresting control of the contest when the Sixers looked down and out.
Jamaican opener Chris Gayle (46 off 33) pushed the Renegades to a strong total of 4-172 at Etihad Stadium.
Big hitting from Lumb (63 off 35) and captain Moises Henriques (62 off 37) helped the Sixers recover from early wickets and win with seven balls to spare.
With their imposing tally on the scoreboard, the Renegades were on top after their opening bowlers struck.
Chris Tremain removed Brad Haddin for a golden duck and Nathan Rimmington captured Nic Maddinson (17) to have the Sixers 2-22.
The 20,850-strong crowd made its mind up, reverting to the Mexican wave for entertainment early, even by Big Bash League standards.
Lumb and Henriques had other ideas, combining for a century partnership.
A 20-run over off Xavier Doherty (0-42) - including three sixes - pushed the English veteran to his half-century.
Tremain (2-48) was punished on his return to the attack, with both batsman clearing the rope in a 23-run over.
Rimmington, the night's best bowler with 4-26, broke through by capturing Lumb but the damage was already done.
The Sixers needed less than a run a ball with three overs left when Tom Beaton dropped Jordan Silk over the rope off Rimmington's bowling.
The paceman responded to dismiss Silk (14) and Stephen O'Keefe (2) in a fine spell.
Gayle and the Renegades would rue the efforts of their other bowlers, with 172 looking a defendable total on the lively drop-in pitch.
The Jamaican opener looked set for a huge score, warming into his knock and then finding the boundary with ease.
The 36-year-old hit consecutive sixes off Sean Abbott - the latter into the second tier - and even edged a Jackson Bird yorker through his legs for four.
Tom Beaton (41 off 23) and Dwayne Bravo (45 off 29) built on his efforts with an unbeaten 78-run partnership, but to no avail.
Henriques said Lumb showed him the way.
"I really struggled at the start of my innings and he really let me flow into my innings why I moseyed around," he said.
Rimmington thought the Renegades batsmen had posted a winning total.
"I thought we had a really, really good score, I think the wicket might have changed a little bit.
"Seven days off now. A couple days away and then we'll attack it."
Share
