Right then, that is all we have from this cracker of a game. On Tuesday, 27th of December the focus will shift to Sydney where Sydney Thunder will take on Brisbane Heat in the 17th game of the season. The action will start at 1.45 pm IST (8.15 am GMT). Our build-up though starts early. So, do join us for the same. Till then, it’s goodbye and cheers!
Ashton Turner receives the Player of the Match award for bailing his team out with an unbeaten 48 in 38 deliveries. He says that they bowled very well and got themselves ahead of the game in the first half. Tells that the surface was much better than the batters made it look and says that they got themselves in a pretty ordinary position with the bat. Mentions that it happens in T20 cricket when teams go for some shots early on but they batted well after that and credits Jhye Richardson for calming him down. Talks about his form and says that it is all about the team and says that they believed in each other. Adds that it is nice to get some runs under the belt and get a win.
At the halfway stage, it looked like Adelaide Strikers did not have enough on the board with only Chris Lynn looking in good touch before he was run out. Matthew Short, Adam Hose, Colin de Grandhomme, and Thomas Kelly got off to decent starts but could not make substantial contributions and help their team to a much-higher total. Andrew Tye was the pick of the bowlers for Perth Scorchers taking 3 wickets in his full quota of four overs conceding 30 runs with Jason Behrendorff and Ashton Agar chipping in with one each. Despite the fight shown by the Adelaide Strikers, it became evident at the end that the visitors were 10-15 runs short of a decent target.
Adelaide Strikers got off to a perfect start with the ball with Matthew Short claiming a wicket in the very first over of the game. Henry Thornton continued his good run and claimed another one in the very next over before Rashid Khan took the third scalp of the inning. Benjamin Manenti was slightly expensive but ended the opponent's counterattack with the timely wicket of the in-form Josh Inglis. They conceded 52 runs in the Powerplay but managed to run through the top order of the reigning champions. Matthew Short and Colin de Grandhomme claimed a wicket each before the 10th over but post that the bowlers were unable to get a breakthrough till the penultimate over. Henry Thornton claimed that wicket to make his tournament tally 14 but was way too expensive in a low-scoring game.
Chasing a low total, Perth Scorchers needed to get off to a steady start but were pegged back immediately as they lost Faf du Plessis right away. Adam Lyth’s misery continued as he joined his opening partner back in the shed soon after and Nick Hobson could not make much of an impact either. Aaron Hardie was promoted up the order and along with Josh Inglis, put on a 31-run counterattacking partnership in just 13 balls. Both of them were unable to carry on as they were dismissed against spin and when Ashton Agar saw his stumps shattered, the hosts found themselves reeling at 72 for the loss of 6 wickets. Jhye Richardson joined his skipper and they put together a 43-run partnership to take their team close to the target. Ashton Turner finally arrived for the BBL party scoring 48 crucial runs to take his team home.
We have witnessed an absolutely low-scoring thriller! This game could have gone either way right till the end and eventually it is the reigning champions who handled the pressure better and got over the finish line courtesy of their skipper Ashton Turner. It takes them on equal points with their opponents today but the visitors still have the top spot courtesy of a better net run rate. The Adelaide Strikers have now suffered their second consecutive loss and they need to figure out their top-order batting issues at the earliest if they are to end this slide.
PERTH SCORCHERS
136/7 (19.1)
48* (38)
22 (17)
2/11 (2)
2/46 (4)
Over 20
4
Andrew Tye*
5 (2)
Ashton Turner
48 (38)
Peter Siddle
0/24 (3.1)
SCO
136/7
4
19.1
Peter Siddle to Andrew Tye ,FOUR! That's it! Perth Scorchers win by 3 wickets! This is a slower short delivery on off. Tye waits for it and pulls it wide of the mid on fielder for a boundary.
Over 19
W
1
6
4
6
0
Ashton Turner*
48 (38)
Andrew Tye
1 (1)
Henry Thornton
2/46 (4)
SCO
132/7
0
18.6
Henry Thornton to Ashton Turner ,Oh, he is dropped! A fullish delivery, on off. Turner makes room and slashes it straight to the point fielder. However, the fielder there fails to grab it.
6
18.5
Henry Thornton to Ashton Turner ,SIX! Looks like Turner is not interested in taking this game to the last over! Fantastic stuff! Shorter and on off. Turner makes room and cuts it over deep backward point for a maximum. Just 2 needed now! What a knock this has been under pressure!
4
18.4
Henry Thornton to Ashton Turner ,FOUR! Turner is taking his team home here! 8 needed now from 8 balls! This is full and on off. Turner makes room and slices it over the in-field over covers for a boundary.
6
18.3
Henry Thornton to Ashton Turner ,SIX! That's a gift and Turner is too good a player to miss out on that! A friendly full toss on off. Turner stays in his crease and tonks it over long on for a maximum.
1
18.2
Henry Thornton to Andrew Tye ,Oh, almost a wicket again! A length delivery on off. Tye fends it towards covers and sets off for a single. The fielder there has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Single taken.
Andrew Tye is the new batter out in the middle.
W
18.1
Henry Thornton to Jhye Richardson ,OUT! CAUGHT! Oh, my word! Henry Thornton gets the wicket off the first delivery of the Power Surge! This game is going right down to the wire, folks! This is a yorker on off Jhye Richardson makes room and tries to power it away. However, all he manages to get is toe-end of his blade and the ball loops up in the air towards mid on where Thomas Kelly takes an easy catch.
Power Surge! Perth Scorchers have a slight advantage here and it is to be seen if they can use it aptly. Henry Thornton has been handed the ball and he will bowl the penultimate over.
Over 18
1
0
1
2
1
1
Jhye Richardson*
18 (26)
Ashton Turner
32 (34)
Peter Siddle
0/20 (3)
SCO
115/6
1
17.6
Peter Siddle to Jhye Richardson ,Single to end the over! On the shorter side, on off. Jhye Richardson flat-bats it to long on for a single.