Ruthless Marsh upstages spectacular Finch return

Mitch Marsh has upstaged Aaron Finch's spectacular return to cricket with another swashbuckling innings to keep the Perth Scorchers unbeaten streak alive.

Finch, who was playing his first KFC BBL game since leading Australia to victory in the T20 World Cup final last month, was just as impressive as he matched Marsh's half century, but it wasn't enough to save his Melbourne Renegades from the ruthless Scorchers at Marvel Stadium.

Australia's white ball skipper brought up 10,000 T20 runs during his knock of 68 from 43 balls and looked his vintage best as he and new Renegades captain Nic Maddinson set about chasing down Perth's imposing 5-206.

The Renegades chase got off to the worst possible start as they lost in-form opener Mackenzie Harvey to a searing yorker from Jason Behrendorff on the second ball of the innings.

Finch, though, didn't look like he had missed a beat during his month on the sidelines, crunching a beautiful off drive for three off his first ball.

He followed it up with five sixes, including several that landed in the second tier, as he a Maddinson put on 130 for the second wicket, the highest ever partnership for the Renegades, surpassing Finch and Brad Hodge's 126 in BBL|01.

Maddinson (67 off 41 balls) seemed like he was trying to hit everything out of the park as the pair put the Scorchers attack under real pressure for the first time this season.

When Maddinson fell to a stunning caught behind by Inglis off Marsh, who got himself into the game with the ball as well, Finch followed soon after when he holed out to long on off the bowling of Ashton Agar (2-23).

That pretty much signalled the end of the resistance, and with Mohammad Nabi falling first ball, the Renegades just didn't have enough firepower left in the sheds, finishing 21 runs short on 5-185.

Earlier, the hosts got off to a dream start after Perth elected to bat first, with firebrand James Pattinson removing the out-of-sorts Josh Inglis in the second over of the match.

But that only brought arguably the most in-form T20 batter in the world to the crease in Marsh who continued his brutal assault on all bowlers.

The Australia T20 No. 3 was given a life early when Jake Fraser-McGurk, who took an absolute hanger during the Renegades last game at Marvel Stadium, trod on the rope and spilled a tough chance for six.

It didn't stop Marsh as he crunched that Pattinson over for 17, going on to hit five sixes and five fours as he pummelled the host's attack to all corners of Marvel Stadium for partnerships of 62 and 70 with Cameron Bancroft and Colin Munro.

Marsh, who finished with 86 off 53 balls, looked odds on for his second century of the tournament before he was undone by a nice catch by Maddinson at cover.

The 30-year-old didn't look impressed as he left the arena as he was the second wicket in the over with Colin Munro (20) also falling to Kane Richardson.

But just as the Renegades looked like pulling the Scorchers up a little bit, a horror over from English quick Reece Topley gifted Perth 24 runs off the penultimate six balls.

Topley, who had only conceded 20 off his three overs to that point, bowled two over the waist no balls, which fellow Englishman Laurie Evans promptly despatched to the boundary.

The first he hit over point for six, while the second was almost so high that he couldn't reach it, but he just managed to get the toe of the bat on it to guide it between the keeper and short third man for four.

Evans then smacked the subsequent free hit straight down the ground for four, and the last ball of the innings from Kane Richardson emphatically over cover off the back foot for six, as his blistering 42 not out off 16 balls pushed the Scorchers past 200 off their 20 overs and to their second highest total ever.

Marsh said it was his really clear role at the top of the order that was contributing to his golden run of form and then he just backed his ability to keep the scoreboard rolling.

"I am just enjoying my cricket and coming out here with a clear mind," he said after the win.

"I love playing for the Perth Scorchers, I am enjoying the consistency of what I am doing and that really is relaying out onto the field so hopefully that can continue and the Scorchers can keep winning."

The loss leaves the Renegades at the bottom of the BBL|11 table with just one win from four games, while the Scorchers sit top undefeated from their five games.

The two sides face off again in four days' time at Marvel Stadium on Boxing Day.