Stoinis, KP help Stars sweep 'Gades

The match in a tweet: Stars sweep the Renegades! Stoinis with the ball, KP with the bat humble the 'Gades despite some Bravo brilliance.

The hero: He normally stars with the bat, but tonight it was Marcus Stoinis' time to show his all-round skills and shine with the ball. Bowling just his fourth and fifth overs of the tournament, Stoinis claimed the wickets of hard-hitters Chris Gayle, Cameron White and Tom Beaton while conceding only 11 runs from his two overs. The Gayle and White wickets were from consecutive deliveries, taking the wind out of the Renegades innings. 

WATCH: Stoinis snaffles two-in-two

The victim: There's more on his deeds to follow, but Dwayne Bravo had an over to forget, one which could have been the difference in the match. The 14th over produced four moments of madness: a huge appeal for caught behind that Ricky Ponting ruled as out but KP and the umpire thought otherwise; two fielders converged and withdrew from a high catch that would have sent KP packing; an under-edge from Handscomb that was almost chopped on; and a towering six from Pietersen, ending an over that could have yielded a couple of wickets but instead leaked a dozen runs. 

WATCH: Bravo frustrated by dramatic over

The moment: "You'll never see that again." Former Australia swing bowler and Network TEN Sport commentator summed up Peter Nevill's bizarre run-out perfectly. Dwayne Bravo thumped Zampa straight down the ground only to watch on as the ball ricocheted off Nevill's bat at the non-striker's end, into the nose of the vulnerable bowler and onto the stumps. Nevill was backing up and out of his crease, and before walking off, made sure the young leg-spinner was uninjured. 

WATCH: "You'll never see that again"

The supporting cast: KP was great. He had his luck, sure, but he was there at the end on 67, guiding the Stars to an emphatic eight-wicket win. Pietersen's strength was rotating the strike, scoring 19 singles in his 43-ball stay. He's an extremely difficult prospect to bowl to – light on his feet, powerful when he needs to be and clever, manipulating the field and picking the gaps. 

WATCH: Pietersen powers Stars to victory

The consolation effort: Bravo was brilliant on a losing side. His Calypso-style batting, all flair and fireworks, clicked for the second time this season. After a slow start, the allrounder upped the ante as the overs remaining dwindled, finding the rope three times in four balls off the bowling of John Hastings in the 17th over. As they say, there's more room in the air, and Bravo went aerial twice for maximum result in the final two overs to finish unbeaten with 59 from 37 balls. The wicket of Stoinis with new ball, a deft slower ball that yorked the young opening batsman, was pure class, but his was a lone hand tonight. 

WATCH: Brilliant Bravo boosts Renegades

The stat: It was a pretty good week for Stars opener Luke Wright. In seven days, the Englishman scored 173 runs and was dismissed just the once.

The wash-up: It's gonna be tough for the Renegades to qualify for the semi-finals now with that loss. The men in red would need to win their last two matches and hope results go their way. For the Stars, their eyes are now on securing a home semi-final.

The next stops: The Renegades travel to Spotless Stadium to tackle the Sydney Thunder, while the Stars host the bottom-placed Brisbane Heat in five days' time.

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