Big Bash League: Melbourne Renegades beat Hobart Hurricanes

Harper had struggled in the previous five games this season, averaging 5.4 with three ducks.

His last try got off to an inauspicious start when his indecision led to returning Test squad member Marcus Harris being dropped.

However, the diminutive wicketkeeper quickly refocused and hit his stride at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, scoring 89 off 48 balls.

The brilliant innings included seven sixes before Tim David eventually caught Harper off Nathan Ellis (1-13).

Jon Wells (22 not out) and Will Sutherland (4 no) brought the Renegades home at 4-164 after the Hurricanes had scored 8-162 with 11 balls to spare.

The result moved the Renegades (5-4) into the top half of the standings, while the Hurricanes (3-5) continue to slip, heading into the final round off the back of three straight losses.

Harper got a 59-run save after Riley Meredith missed a throw - the 15th in eight games for the Hurricanes.

The visitors were made to pay as the Renegades took the lead early in the next inning when Harper knocked in 26 runs off Joel Paris.

Caleb Jewell (28 off 17) and fellow McDermott (28 off 23) threatened to score big after the Hurricanes were sent into bat but couldn't capitalize on their starts.

Kane Richardson (2-20) and Tom Rogers (2-40) led the Renegades' rally with the ball, with the latter also providing danger in the field.

Rogers took five wickets in his last game and took out the dangerous Matthew Wade and Tim David with direct hits.

The Hurricanes suffered a setback before the match when they lost left-arm spinner Patrick Dooley to a finger injury during the warm-up.

Dooley, who has taken the most wickets for the Hurricanes this season and has been the most economical bowler, suffered a cut on his left little finger during fielding practice and had to be bandaged, preventing him from throwing.

Player of the match: Sam Harper is named man of the match for his brilliant 89 runs with seven sixes.

Melbourne Renegades Squad

Playing - Marcus Harris, Martin Guptill, Sam Harper (wk), Aaron Finch (c), Jonathan Wells, Mackenzie Harvey, Will Sutherland, Akeal Hosein, Tom Rogers, Kane Richardson, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Bench - Fawad Ahmed, Jake Fraser McGurk, David Moody, Corey Rocchiccioli

Hobart Hurricanes Squad

Playing - Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Zak Crawley, Matthew Wade (c & wk), Tim David, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Wil Parker, Joel Paris, Nathan Ellis, and Riley Meredith

Bench - Mitchell Owen, D Arcy Short, Patrick Dooley