Renegades stay alive by rolling Thunder

The match in a tweet: 'Gades alive and kicking! Thunder lose 4 straight as White/Bravo lead chase of 174 after Khawaja/Watson 50s #BBL05

The moment: The final over of the Thunder's innings garnered just four runs for the home side, meaning a total that had at one point threatened 200 had petered out to a much more chase-able 5-173. Dwayne Bravo was the bowler, and the West Indian's experience showed as he delivered a series of slower balls to Shane Watson and Mike Hussey, getting the wickets of both Aussie veterans with his final two balls and keeping his team very much in the match. 

Watch: Bravo tempers Thunder in Sydney

The heroes: Bravo has been brilliant at times in BBL|05, and never more so than tonight. To go with his 2-26 from four, he played a crucial innings in the chase, coming to the crease at 2-71 in the ninth over and making 47 from just 24 to form a lethal partnership with Cam White. Stand-in skipper White (61 off 46) was equally effective; the match could well have gotten away from the 'Gades during their bowling innings but the former Australia T20 captain pulled the right reins, then quickly found his groove with the bat. As the Renegades launched into their run chase, it was White who led the way, underlining his class with some crisply driven sixes over long on and combining with Bravo to turn the tables on the Thunder.

Watch: Captain White leads by example

The support cast: Chris Gayle (28 off 20) may have been out following a bizarre sequence (see more below) but prior to that he and Tom Cooper (25 off 17) were instrumental in getting the Renegades off to a much-desired flyer. With the ball, Nathan Rimmington was particularly economical, conceding just 13 from four overs and landing the prized wicket of Andre Russell in amazing circumstances (again, see below!). 

Watch: Khawaja's stylish fifty

The consolation effort: Usman Khawaja put on an exhibition in timing and placement from the get-go, a series of boundaries seeing him race to 31 while partner Jacques Kallis had just a solitary single next to his name. He finished with double that - a superb 62 from 42 balls to continue his dream summer. Allrounder Shane Watson was in superb touch with the bat, blasting three sixes in six balls during one particularly productive sequence and upping the ante just as Khawaja settled into the Twenty20 version of the sheet-anchor role. He too finished with 62 - his maiden fifty for the Thunder. 

Watch: Watson's maiden Thunder fifty

The wicket: Andre Russell (16 off nine) was out in bizarre fashion, crashing back onto his stumps after being pinned on the left shoulder by a Nathan Rimmington bouncer. It meant Russell struggled with his bowling duties, going for 20 from his first two overs as he battled through the pain before applying some ice on the sideline.  

Watch: Russell's bizarre hit-wicket

The 'what the?' moment: "I can't believe what I've just seen. That is the most unbelievable, ridiculous cricket I've seen." - So said Ricky Ponting after Gayle declined a single to long-on, then popped a simple catch behind square leg the very next ball. 

Watch: Gayle's baffling dismissal

The stat: The Renegades have taken 27 wickets this season, and will need all 10 against the Strikers next Monday if they're to avoid the unwanted record of 'fewest wickets in a BBL season'. That's a title currently owned by Brisbane Heat's class of BBL|04, with 36. 

The wash-up: The Renegades live to fight another day, joining the Thunder on six points. Both sides will need to win their final match and rely on other results going their way. 

The next stops: The Thunder head across town to take on the Sixers knowing their maiden finals appearance rests on a victory against their Sydney rivals, while the Renegades play the last regular match of the season, against the Strikers in Adelaide next Monday, and face the same scenario.