Cameron Boyce has smashed the quickest half-century of the BBL season to propel the Melbourne Renegades into the semi-finals with a 27-run win over the Sydney Thunder at Marvel Stadium.
The Renegades lost wickets regularly after winning the toss and batting first on Wednesday night, but posted a total of 7-140 thanks to some lusty late hitting from Boyce.
The leg-spinner smashed an unbeaten 51 from 22 balls, including five sixes and four fours - the last coming off the last ball of the innings - to score his maiden BBL half-century in front of 10,287 fans.
"Coming in at No.8 there's not as much pressure and fortunately it came off for me tonight," Boyce said.
"I actually didn't realise I'd made 50 until I was halfway off the ground.
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"... (As a team) you've got to hit form at the right end of the tournament and hopefully that's what we're doing.
"Going into the finals if our top six can fire we'll hopefully give the comp a good nudge."
In a stunning BBL debut, teenage wicket-keeper Baxter Holt top-scored for the Thunder with 37 from 28 balls, but the visitors were bowled out for 113 with five balls remaining.
The 19-year-old, the fourth keeper the Thunder have used this season, impressed with the gloves as well taking two catches and stumping Beau Webster.
"I felt confident in my game coming in and to be able to do that was really rewarding for me," he said.
"Unfortunately we couldn't get over the line."
The Thunder's run chase got off to a bad start when skipper Shane Watson departed for four runs in the first over.
Callum Ferguson, who belted an unbeaten century in his last innings, was the key man for the Thunder but he was caught on the boundary on 28.
Kane Richardson was the pick of the Renegades' bowlers with 3-27 from his four overs.
The Thunder's bowlers had their side on top early, with Aaron Finch (10), Tom Cooper (4) and Dan Christian (4) all falling cheaply.
Mohammad Nabi helped steady the innings with his 36 from 34 deliveries setting the stage for Boyce, who did most of the damage making 39 runs in the last two overs.
Fawad Ahmed was important with 2-22 from his four overs, with Jono Cook (2-18) and Chris Jordan (2-44) chipping in.
The Renegades finish the regular season against the Hobart Hurricanes on February 7, while the Thunder will need to win games against the Sydney Sixers and the Hurricanes and hope other results go their way to book a semi-finals berth.
