Cricket News: Big Bash League - Kolkata Knight Riders' Aaron Finch causes Sydney Thunder even more suffering

The Renegades looked to be in control for most of the match, but it took an assured finish from Finch to reach 6-175 and claim victory at Marvel Stadium.

The Renegades needed 11 runs in the last over, but the Thunder's hopes grew when pace bowler Gurinder Sandhu (2-51) had Akeal Hosein caught slogging.

The Renegades still needed ten runs off four balls when Finch (71 off 43 balls) came out to bat, but the Australian T20 skipper scored a six and kept his cool by scoring two runs off each of the next two deliveries to get the job done with one ball less.

Finch joined Renegades captain Nic Maddinson (39 off 28) in the most successful chase to date at BBL 12, while Jake Fraser-McGurk (24 off 18) also impressed early on.

Daniel Sams (3-33) was the Thunder's best bowler and almost turned the game in their favour when the Renegades were already on their way home.

The Thunder (1-2) won the coin toss and opted to bat to recover from the horror show of the last game when they were bowled out for just 15.

Rilee Rossouw ensured the Thunder put that humiliating performance behind them, scoring a vital 53 off 38 balls after successfully overturning an lbw decision in 31 balls.

Alex Ross (39 off 23 balls) and Oliver Davies (33* off 18 balls) put on a vital 42-run partnership towards the end of the Thunder's innings, setting the Renegades a difficult target until Finch intervened.

Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (1-22) again opened the bowling for the Renegades and ensured the short-handed Thunder got off to a nervy start with a tight line in the powerplay.

England opener Alex Hales upped the run rate when he bowled Hosein over the boundary, taking the Thunder to the 15-run mark without loss, although Matthew Gilkes fell a run later.

Although the Thunder put in a much better performance, they will have to rely on the fitness of captain Jason Sangha, who went down heavily on the field and injured his shoulder.

The Renegades' win was their first against the Thunder in their last five meetings and moved them to a 2-0 record after surrendering the wooden spoon in their previous three outings.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Aaron Finch (70 off 43 balls) 

Melbourne Renegades Squad

Playing - Sam Harper (wk), Nic Maddinson (c), Jake Fraser McGurk, Aaron Finch, Jonathan Wells, Andre Russell, Will Sutherland, Akeal Hosein, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Tom Rogers, Kane Richardson.

Bench - Mackenzie Harvey, Corey Rocchiccioli, David Moody

Sydney Thunder Squad

Playing - Alex Hales, Matthew Gilkes (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Jason Sangha (c), Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett, Gurinder Sandhu, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Bench - Ben Cutting, Toby Gray, Nathan McAndrew, Baxter Holt