A week-long break has paid dividends for Test discard Aaron Finch, who led the Melbourne Renegades to a big upset BBL win over Hobart.
Melbourne's six-wicket win with four balls left on Monday night at Marvel Stadium ended the Hurricanes' five-game winning streak to start the season.
The victory also snapped the Renegades' three-game losing streak and keeps them in the top-four hunt with a 3-3 record.
Finch top-scored for the Renegades with 42, while teammate Sam Harper was named man of the match for his quickfire 32 and solid work behind the stumps.
Finch says he has barely batted after being dropped from the Test side, instead returning to Melbourne for a badly-needed rest.
"Runs have been few and far between, haven't they?," he said of his innings.
"That (the break) was really refreshing, it's something I haven't done for a long time.
"Mentally, when you're training and travelling and playing so much, it can wear you down.
"So that's why this week was really important - not ideal to be dropped from the Test side, obviously, but ... it was really nice."
The Renegades set up the win with an ideal start, reducing the Hurricanes' in-form top order to 3-11.
George Bailey (70no) and Ben McDermott (50) steadied the Hurricanes with a 112-run stand and they made 5-145.
Harper fell to a dubious lbw decision - the ball was probably going down leg side - and it took an outstanding piece of fielding from Johan Botha to run out Finch with a direct hit.
Batting has been the Renegades' big problem this season and they were far from home at 4-117 in the 16 overs.
But two sixes in the second last over from Dan Christian (25no) were crucial and Mohammad Nabi also sealed the win with another six, taking them to 4-150.
"I was always confident the boys could beat Hobart - we've had some great battles with them over the years," Finch said..
"Regardless of how either team is travelling ... (we) bring the best out of each other.
"The way we started with the ball was really important ... and then a nice run chase."
It was Finch's first BBL game of the season and he now leaves to captain the Australian one-day team against India.
Finch said after Monday night's game that he has no idea about his fate ahead of Wednesday's naming of the squad for the Sri Lankan Test tour.
