Sydney Thunder's BBL season is over after they fell agonisingly short of chasing down the Melbourne Renegades, who took a major step to securing a semi-final berth in Canberra.
A half-century from Renegades opener Marcus Harris and wickets in the powerplay helped the Melbourne side to a nine-run victory at Manuka Oval on Wednesday night.
An enthralling fifth-wicket partnership between Thunder pair Arjun Nair and Ben Rohrer yielded 84 runs from 38 balls, giving them hope after faltering early in their pursuit of 190.
Rohrer snatched the momentum for the Thunder when he smacked 28 from a Jack Wildermuth over.
But Kane Richardson had Rohrer (48 runs off 21 balls) caught in the next over, the most important wicket during his superb spell of 4-22.
The 19-year-old Nair - suspended from bowling due to a suspect action - justified his place as a specialist batsman, whacking three sixes on his way to 45 off 25.
Rohrer said the Thunder continued to put themselves in tough do-or-die situations at the business end of the tournament.
"It's probably earlier in the tournament we need to look at rather than a game like tonight. There's a few we definitely let get away," he said.
The Renegades will know whether they have to beat Brisbane in their final game of the season by the time the two sides meet at the Gabba on Saturday.
"They're going to come hard, that's what they do even when there's nothing on the line," Richardson said.
After losing two early wickets, Thunder skipper Shane Watson (22 off 16) threatened to launch an assault on the Renegades' bowlers when he bludgeoned three sixes.
But a superb catch from Kieron Pollard gave Wildermuth (1-43) Watson's wicket.
The West Indian sprinted in from midwicket before diving forward in an outstanding display of athleticism.
Pollard (2-19) later bowled the final over, removing Chris Green (22 off 14) who loomed as the man capable of getting the 14 runs required.
After being spared the selection axe when veteran Brad Hodge (appendicitis) withdrew, Harris smashed a half-century to lead the way with the bat for the Renegades.
The opener made the most of the reprieve plundering two sixes - including a monster over deep midwicket - and seven fours in his knock of 64 from 41 balls.
A final-over cameo from Beau Webster, who finished with 18 off four balls, saw him dispatch two sixes and a four to finish off the innings and boost the Renegades to 6-189, as Mitch McClenaghan went for 25.
Legspinner Fawad Ahmed was the pick of the Thunder bowlers, with 1-27 from his four overs.
