Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder Prediction

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Personnel-wise, the Renegades have been unchanged for the last two matches, with Marcus Harris absent on test duty. Cameron Boyce opened the batting against Sydney Thunder but lasted two balls, while Mackenzie Harvey top-scored there last time out - and so it is the latter likely to partner Aaron Finch against the Thunder this time. Chris Tremain has also come into the team for those two matches and excelled with the ball in the win against Perth Scorchers.

Cameron White retired hurt with a hamstring injury, however, and Beau Webster appears to be next in line to replace him having been one of the two unused members of the 13-man squad for the Scorchers game.

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Aaron Finch's half-century the last time these two teams met was his 53rd in T20 cricket (in addition to six centuries) and his test absence is a huge boost to the Renegades.

Finch's half-century was only the second by a Renegades batsman in this year's Big Bash League, with Sam Harper leading the way having scored the other. Harper has hit 269 runs in total from his 12 innings. The only other Gades batsman to pass 200 runs this season is Tom Cooper, who has quietly gone to 219 from his 12 innings, without yet passing 50.

With that in mind, it is little surprise to note the Renegades have their bowlers to thank for a lot of their success so far. That includes Kane Richardson, the top wicket-taker in the tournament so far this season. Richardson took 1-6 from three overs last time out, conceding just three run-scoring shots, to move to 19 wickets for the season.

Chris Tremain had set the tone, meanwhile, in just his second game of the season. He took 3-9 from his four overs, dismissing Cameron Bancroft and the Marsh brothers to leave the Scorchers 12-4 from the power play.

Dan Christian took four wickets, meanwhile, to move to 11 for the tournament so far - it was his sixth T20 four-fer. Last time these teams met, Harry Gurney was named man of the match for his 2-27 from his four overs.

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Melbourne Renegades have now won five of their last seven games following the thumping win against Perth Scorchers. It also made it back-to-back wins since being bowled out for 121 in the Victoria derby against Melbourne Stars - the Stars winning by six wickets in the final over.

Melbourne Renegades bounced back against Sydney Thunder, however. Aaron Finch - who also top-scored when the Renegades beat Hobart Hurricanes to start this run of form - scored 54 in a total of 152/9. In reply, Kane Richardson and Harry Gurney both claimed two wickets and slowed the Thunder sufficiently to win by 12 runs.

Last time out, the Renegades had posted 157/5, with Mackenzie Harvey (38) and Sam Harper (37) leading the way. Chris Tremain (3-9), Kane Richardson (1-6), Dan Christian (4-20) and Cameron Boyce (2-16) then ripped through the Perth Scorchers batting line-up to dismiss them for just 79.