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The Top End T20 Series 2024 continued on Saturday, August 10, with a triple-header in Darwin. To start off, the Renegades defeated Stars in an all-out Melbourne Derby at the Marrara Oval.
Between Pakistan A and Perth Scorchers at the same venue, the former prevailed by a 17-run margin. Meanwhile, Adelaide Strikers also opened their account on the points table with a win over Tasmania in the third match of the day.
Regardless of the three outcomes, Northern Territory continues to claim the top spot on the nine-team points table with a formidable NRR of 2.733.
With wins in their opening games, Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades take the subsequent two slots on the standings with an NRR of 1.05 and 0.961, respectively. Pakistan A takes the fourth spot on the table after defeating Perth Scorchers.
Winless Melbourne Stars, Tasmania and Perth Scorchers take the fifth, sixth and seventh positions on the standings as they are yet to open their account. Australian Capital Territory and Bangladesh A, meanwhile, occupy the final two rungs.
Renegades, Pakistan A and Strikers win big in Darwin triple-header
In the first match of the day at Darwin’s Marrara Oval, Melbourne Renegades defeated Melbourne Stars by four wickets and 13 balls to spare. After Xavier A Crone restricted the Stars to 149/6, Renegades captain Will Sutherland (33 off 24 balls) and unbeaten Crone (21* off 13 balls) punched out handy knocks to steer them past the finishing line.
Between Pakistan A and Perth Scorchers at the same venue, the former pounded 188/7 from 20 overs courtesy of an influential 57-run knock from Usman Khan. Arafat Minhas also clubbed 31 runs in the death overs from just 16 deliveries with three boundaries and a six.
Later in the game, Pakistan A pacers Abbas Afridi (2/32) and Jahandad Khan (2/42) disrupted Corey Wasley’s momentum and restricted the Scorchers within 17 runs of their target.
At the TIO Stadium in Darwin, Adelaide Strikers batted first and conjured 158/8 from 20 overs. Captain Liam Scott top-scored with 44 after top-order jitters and received timely assistance via Sam Rahaley’s 21.
For Tasmania, Raf MacMillan unfurled the spell of the innings through figures of 3/17. In response, bowlers Jordan Buckingham (3/31), Liam Scott (2/24) and Tim Oakley (2/25) collectively restricted Tasmania to 137/9 to secure a 21-run win for the Strikers.
