Chris Gayle smashes equal-fastest T20 fifty in loss

Chris Gayle hit a 50 off just 12 balls. Photo / Getty

Chris Gayle blasted the equal-fastest half-century in Twenty20 history but it wasn't enough for Melbourne Renegades to advance to the Big Bash League semi-finals.

Renegades needed to reach Adelaide Strikers' target of 171 runs in 16 overs if they were to replace Sydney Thunder in fourth place on the ladder but they fell to a 27-run defeat, despite Gayle's heroics.

In front of 25,227 fans at Etihad Stadium, the star West Indian import set the tone early with four sixes in a row off the first over of Renegades' innings, bowled by Greg West.

Gayle equalled the 12-ball half-century made by India's Yuvraj Singh with his seventh towering six before he was caught behind by Tim Ludeman off the bowling of Travis Head for 56 runs off 17 balls at a strike rate of 329.41.

How to hit a 50 in 12 balls:
2 , . , 6 , 6 , 6 , 6, 2 , 6 , 6 , 4 , 1 , 6.

But while Gayle plundered the attack at one end, wickets fell regularly at the other.

Tom Cooper, Cameron White and Dwayne Bravo departed cheaply as Renegades slumped to 3-60, with a groan of disappointment heard around the ground when Gayle followed.

Peter Nevill (21 off 19 balls), Nathan Rimmington (26 off 19) and Cameron Gannon (23 off 15) kept Renegades' faint hopes alive but their BBL05 campaign ended in the 16th over - bowled out for 143.

Head was the pick of the Strikers bowlers with 3-16 off two overs.

Earlier, White won the toss and sent Adelaide in to bat but, led by openers Jono Dean and Tim Ludeman, the visitors were cruising at 0-85 in the 11th over.

However, Renegades managed to launch a counter-attack - storming back into the contest with 4-22 through the middle overs.

Bravo made the important breakthrough, dismissing Dean for 48 off 35 balls, with Travis Head (0) and Alex Ross (4) falling in quick succession.

Ludeman had played a support role to Dean, who smashed four sixes, but the opener became Xavier Doherty's second wicket when he was trapped LBW for 49 off 41 balls.

Strikers skipper Brad Hodge, who finished unbeaten on 37 from 21 balls, combined with Jake Lehmann for an important 55-run partnership that tipped the scales back in their side's favour.

Doherty was the best of the bowlers with 2-30 from his four overs as Strikers finished their 20 overs at 5-170.

Strikers will host the first semi-final against Thunder on Thursday night, with Melbourne Stars to host their semi-final against Perth Scorchers at the MCG on Friday night.

-AAP