Renegades score big win over Sixers

Brad Hodge and skipper Andrew McDonald guided Melbourne Renegades to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Sydney Sixers at Etihad Stadium on Monday night.
The result means both teams have two wins and two losses from their opening four games in the Big Bash League.
Chasing the Sixers' total of 6-161, the Renegades made 2-164 from 17.4 overs.
The home side had struggled to 2-65 after 10 overs in their run chase.
However Hodge (72 not out from 51 balls) and McDonald (60 not out from 37 deliveries) started to take some risks and they paid off as they shared an unbeaten 124-run partnership for the third wicket.
Man-of-the-match McDonald hit seven sixes and no fours while Hodge blasted five fours and three sixes in a crowd-pleasing performance.
"Once we had a really good foundation we could go for broke," McDonald said of the hitting spree.
McDonald hit legspinner Steve Smith for three sixes in the 16th over to leave the Renegades in a comfortable position in the final four overs.

Sixers pace bowler Josh Hazlewood took 1-19 off two overs before leaving the field for treatment to a foot problem.
Moises Henriques had top-scored for the Sixers with 41 off 30 deliveries.
Dwayne Bravo (seven) was bowled by Dirk Nannes (2-36) in the second over before Nic Maddinson (29) and Michael Lumb (26) added 46 for the second wicket.
Henriques put on 63 for the third wicket with Smith (25) but Smith and Ben Rohrer (two) both fell to the bowling of Shane Harwood (2-28) in the 18th over.
Legspinner Shahid Afridi claimed 1-23 off four overs in a solid effort while Shaun Tait was only given two overs which cost 21 runs.
A crowd of only 10,818 attended Monday night's game which began with the temperature hovering around 38 degrees.
Hodge said the Renegades had regained their mojo after stringing together two consecutive wins.
"We both got bogged down a little bit, myself and Andrew," Hodge said.

"Then Andrew got one away (for six) and then we started to hit them.
"With wickets in hand, we both put the hammer down and we hit a few over the fence."
Hodge, 37, has scored 44 and 72 not out since returning to the side following a hamstring injury.
"I was confident it was only three weeks. I got back quicker than that," he said.
Hodge says the Renegades are approaching Saturday's derby at the MCG against Melbourne Stars with plenty of confidence.
"If the Stars don't get up next game (against Perth Scorchers on Wednesday) then they're under the pump," Hodge said.
"We've got some real good momentum now."
Sixers captain Smith said he felt 6-161 was a reasonable score to defend.
"But it's pretty tough to contain 'Hodgey' and 'Macca' when they get going," Smith said.
The Sixers play Sydney Thunder at ANZ Stadium on Sunday in a derby clash.
Hazlewood is expected to have scans on his foot injury on Tuesday.


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