Arjun Nair and Ben Rohrer ignited the Sydney Thunder’s hopes during the middle stages of the chase, adding 84 runs in 6.2 overs.
But the wind was quickly taken out of their sails as Melbourne Renegades quick Kane Richardson struck, first removing Nair, then Rohrer in the 15th over.
He added another two scalps during his fourth and final over, removing Aiden Blizzard and Gurinder Sandhu, finishing with 4-22 and ensuring the two points went the way of the Renegades.
The Thunder needed 14 off 6, with Chris Green on strike having raced his way to 22 from 13 – keeping the home team in a chase that on more than one occasion looked to have drifted out of their reach.
Kieron Pollard had the ball for the Renegades and held his nerve superbly: Green top edged his first delivery and departed as Jack Wildermuth clung on to the high chance.
A two from Mitch McClenaghan followed, then a single, a dot, single and a wicket to secure a thrilling nine-run win.
Marcus Harris wasn’t going to play at Manuka Oval.
Harris almost didn’t even travel to Canberra with the Renegades’ squad. The opener was originally omitted from the 13-player group named by the Renegades on Tuesday, but received a late reprieve when veteran batsman Brad Hodge withdrew from the match with appendicitis. Harris made the most of the opportunity, blasting his way to 64 from just 41 deliveries. He cleared the boundary twice — including one monster six over deep mid-wicket — in his blazing knock, sharing in a 77-run opening stand with new opening partner Matt Short, who scored 28 off 24. Harris’ knock eventually came to an end when he was bowled by spinner Chris Green in the 13th over.
The score: Melbourne Renegades 6-189 (Harris 64, Short 28; Sandhu 2-37) defeated Sydney Thunder 180 (Rohrer 48, Nair 35; Richardson 4-22) by nine runs
