Perth Scorchers secure top spot despite Aaron Finch fireworks

Half-centuries from Cameron Bancroft and Stephen Eskinazi propelled the Scorchers to 212 for 5 but a flurry of late boundaries from Aaron Finch ensured a nervy end to proceedings

Perth: Perth Scorchers 212-5, Melbourne Renegades 202-5 – Perth Scorchers won by 10 runs

Scorecard

Perth Scorchers secured top spot, and with it a home qualifier against Sydney Sixers, after completing a 10-run victory over Melbourne Renegades.

However, thanks to a flurry of late boundaries from Aaron Finch, it ended up being a far nervier finish than they would have hoped for.

With the Renegades requiring 68 runs off the final three overs, the two points were all but secured. But Finch, in his 100th BBL outing, took a shine to Andrew Tye's bowling, dispatching the quick for 31 runs (two fours, three sixes) to bring the equation down to 37 off 12.

^{Cameron Bancroft scored a half-century for the Scorchers [Paul Kane/Getty Images]}

^{Aaron Finch nearly stole the show for the Renegades [Paul Kane/Getty Images]}

Aaron Hardie was brought in to bowl the penultimate over, removing Will Sutherland (30 off 18) with his fourth delivery (after previously watching two chances go down in the field) and conceding just seven runs.

And despite a six from Jack Prestwidge and two boundaries from Finch, David Payne kept his cool to secure the win for the Scorchers.

Finch, who was 16 off 16 earlier in the innings, finished unbeaten on 76 (35). Shaun Marsh had laid the foundations for the chase, smashing 54 runs off 34 balls at the top of the order.

In the first innings, Cameron Bancroft and Stephen Eskinazi exploded out of the blocks for the Scorchers, sharing an 87-run first-wicket stand off just 47 balls before Eskinazi was removed by Corey Rocchiccioli in the eighth over.

The Renegades picked up a further four wickets, led by Matt Critchley's 2 for 34, but couldn't shift Bancroft, who burst into life at the death, striking 31 runs off 11 balls as part of a 52-run stand with Cooper Connolly to carry his side beyond the 200-mark.

Occupying fourth position with one game remaining, the Renegades remain on course for the playoffs but must defeat Adelaide Strikers on Tuesday to keep their fate in their own hands.