Cricket: 'Comeback' snag as Warne goes for record runs

Aaron Finch of The Renegades hits Shane Warne of The Stars for six by during their Big Bash League match in Melbourne last night. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Shane Warne suffered the humiliation of conceding an Australian T20 record of 0-41 from his two overs as his Melbourne Stars were upset by the Melbourne Renegades in Friday night's opening BBL clash.

Warne's pre-tournament favourites batted first and made 5-167, led by England international Luke Wright's 53 and David Hussey's 42.

However, the Renegades showed no respect to Warne, belting the 43-year-old legspin great for four sixes as they reached 2-168 with 10 deliveries to spare.

Renegades' skipper Aaron Finch hit a superb 111 not out from 65 deliveries with 12 fours and four sixes, in what rival coach Greg Shipperd described as an innings people will remember for a long time.

Unfortunately for Warne, his bowling performance was memorable for the wrong reasons after boasting earlier this week that he was still good enough to get a few wickets against the Poms next year if picked for a test comeback for the Ashes series.

"Well, that didn't really go to plan, sorry @StarsBBL fans," Warne said on Twitter after the match.

"Well played Renegades & @AaronFinch5 We will bounce back & so will I."

Finch said he didn't think Warne and Renegades' Sri Lankan recruit Muttiah Muralitharan (0-28 off four overs) had been suited by the Etihad Stadium pitch.

"I don't think he bowled badly today. The wicket was just sliding on which probably didn't suit him," Finch said of Warne.

"He'll definitely be back. He's the greatest legspinner of all time so you can't write him off."

Warne wasn't available for interview after the match.

"I'm sure he's disappointed, Shipperd said.

"He'll be back working on his skills and he'll be a different player next game I'm sure.

"It (the pitch) probably didn't turn at all."

Finch paid tribute to the fighting qualities of his bowlers after they were looking down the barrel of a big Stars' total at 1-60 after six overs.

"They've dominated the media. They've dominated with all their chat," Finch said of the Stars, who had declared they would go unbeaten through the eight-game season plus the semi-final and final.

"But to really get out and get one (win) first up was unbelievable.

"I felt like I needed to get some runs to lead from the front as the new captain," said Finch, who was overlooked for the 2012 World T20.

Shipperd said it was a "no-brainer" that Finch would be picked for Australia's T20 matches this summer.

"We should have been able to defend 167," Shipperd added.

"We've lost our first game and we were able to regather ourselves and qualify for the semi-finals (last season). No panic."

The Stars face the Scorchers in Perth on Wednesday while the Renegades play the Thunder in Sydney on Friday.