Melbourne Renegades' Big Bash League finals hopes were extinguished on Monday night, when the Adelaide Strikers posted a 22-run win at Etihad Stadium.
Travis Head belted 71 runs off 34 balls, powering Adelaide to a total of 5-166 in the Twenty20 clash.
The Strikers, having already wrapped up a home semi-final, rested express paceman Shaun Tait from the final-round fixture.
But the visitors were able to restrict the Renegades to 7-144, with legspinner Adam Zampa snaring the key scalps of Ben Stokes and Matthew Wade.
The result means Adelaide will finish the regular season on top of the BBL ladder, while it also guaranteed Sydney Sixers' place in the finals.
Fit-again fast bowler James Pattinson continued his impressive BBL form, finishing with figures of 1-12 from four overs.
Pattinson came to the crease when the Renegades needed 43 runs from 15 balls, but he was unable to conjure any miracles with the bat.
"It's a great way to finish our campaign, to finish off with a win and go in with some momentum into the semis," Adelaide captain Tim Ludeman said.
"That's what we wanted to do achieve, so well done to all the lads."
Ludeman said his players were looking forward to the buzz of a big crowd, especially at the Adelaide Oval.
"I reckon we should try and knock the Crows and Port Adelaide fans off and see if we can get 53,000," he said.
"Why can't we fill it?"
He said the Strikers were relishing the prospect of some sudden-death cricket.
"We'll back ourselves: we've been playing with freedom," he said.
"We won't change anything, and we'll go into the finals confident and with a head of steam."
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