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Clinical Klinger restates T20 case

Scorchers opener continues making an irresistible case for higher honours in shortest format

Michael Klinger just keeps knock, knock, knocking on the Australian selectors' door.

The Perth Scorchers batsman's seemingly endless purple patch continued at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, as he sent yet another missive to the National Selection Panel ahead of next year's World T20.

Quick Single: Klinger, Marsh flatten Renegades

Klinger's brilliant 90 not out from 58 balls – scored in perfect partnership with Shaun Marsh and his 54-ball 76 – saw the Scorchers waltz to a 10-wicket win in front of a strong Etihad Stadium crowd.

WATCH: Captain Klinger's clinical run chase

It followed an unbeaten 53 against the Brisbane Heat last week, and continued a summer that's already seen him plunder an unbeaten double ton in the Sheffield Shield.

WATCH: Klinger's Shield 200

All that after a highly-productive winter in England that saw him score 1653 runs across all formats for Gloucestershire.

Already considered unlucky to miss out on a spot in Australia's Test squad this summer – both initially when Chris Rogers and Michael Clarke's places stood vacant and again when Usman Khawaja's hamstring gave way in Perth – the 35-year-old is still hopeful he may get the call he's been waiting for before Australia begin their World T20 campaign in March.

"Obviously I'd love to (be selected) and all I can do is keep scoring runs in this format or other formats," Klinger told cricket.com.au after the match.

"Hopefully one of the four selectors calls me one day and tells me I'm in.

"If not, I'm still enjoying myself, but I'd love to represent Australia."

WATCH: Amazing crowd catch

For now though, Klinger is relishing an outstanding performance that saw him and Marsh chase the Renegades' 4-170 with eight balls to spare.

It was the first time in Big Bash history that a side has enjoyed a 10-wicket win, while their unbroken stand of 171 was just one run short of the highest-ever BBL partnership.

"It was awesome, I was a little bit nervous after the start because I thought (the Renegades') 170 was probably 15 too many on a wicket which was slowing up a little bit," Klinger said.

"Me and SOS (Shaun Marsh) seem to bat well together, whether it's the four-day game or T20s opening together.

"It was lucky tonight that I happened to get off to a little bit of a flier and that took the pressure off SOS.

"Other days it's him that goes first. Once he started going and hitting them out of the middle it was great fun."

Another Scorcher putting his hand up for World T20 selection was returned paceman Jason Behrendorff, who grabbed 2-14 from his four overs in his second game since returning for injury, and Klinger is backing the 25-year-old to book a ticket to India.

"He's just going to get better and better," Klinger said.

"He had a bit of a back problem but now he's another one putting his hand up, with a few injuries going around, to play some Twenty20 cricket for Australia."

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