that will be that! The Strikers snap their losing streak, and they have done it by annihilating the Scorchers! Fired into the blockhole. M Short calmly turns it behind square on the leg side and gets the single that takes the Strikers off the foot of the table!
Scorchers vs Strikers, 27th Match at Adelaide, BBL 2023, Jan 05 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Strikers won by 9 wickets (with 23 balls remaining)
9:45pm Right. That will be a wrap from us. It all ended rather quickly, with Matthew Short and Lynn taking matters into their own hands. If they can keep firing and if the bowlers can bowl as well as they did today, the Strikers will feel they still have a shot at qualifying.
Tomorrow, the Stars, who have won four on the bounce, will be in action against the Sydney Sixers in what promises to be another thrilling encounter. Do join us for that too, but until then, this is goodbye from Sudeep and me (Shashwat)! Take care!
Matthew Short is the Player of the Match, here is what he has to say: (On the win) Massive win, we needed it. We need the next three in a row as well. It has been a tough season so far. Nice to finally get a win. I think teams are very dangerous when they have nothing to lose. Massive credit to our bowling group. We have been under the pump the last two games but they stood up today. They (the Scorchers) are a quality outfit wherever you play them. It was tough in Perth. We stuck to our guns today, and did what we have been talking about all tournament. (On juggling captaincy with his batting) I don't feel any extra pressure with the bat. Feeling really good. (On batting with Lynn) He has pretty much taught me all that I need to know in the last 12-18 months. He keeps me calm and always nice to not be chasing 200-210. Credit to the bowlers.
9:36pm A thoroughly dominant run-chase, headlined by skipper Short, who got the Strikers off to a blazing start and never looked back. Lynn also joined in on the fun, registering yet another BBL fifty, while D Short was particularly severe on Agar early in the innings.
Once the Strikers got going, the result never seemed in doubt, and they now have a template to cling on to as push comes to shove in the league stages, and they hope to soar further in the table.
It was a rare off-day for the Scorchers. They were outplayed in all departments, and could not summon the sort of efficiency that usually keeps them afloat in matches. Their lines and lengths were a little iffy too, and the catch that Richardson dropped off the first ball of their bowling innings perhaps summed it up.
GregOC: "Matt Short dropped first ball ... and look what happens!"
back of a length on leg stump. M Short shovels it away towards deep square leg, and the scores are now level
slower yorker on middle and leg. M Short prods it out to short mid wicket
off-pace on a length outside off. Lynn is early into the stroke and jams it off the inside edge into his pads. The ball rolls away far enough, though, to allow him to get to his fifty
long side? What long side, asks Lynn! Half-tracker at the stumps and this is begging to be hit. Lynn obliges by backing away and clobbering it flat over deep mid wicket!
four more! Banged in but the line is too far down leg. Lynn can get inside it and help it past the keeper!
slow and short outside off. Lynn backs away and scuffs it to extra cover
Just 13 needed now. Power Surge still not taken
beautiful! Slower ball that lands in the slot on off stump. M Short brings his hands through the ball exquisitely and creams it past extra cover for four!
full and wide outside off. Well outside M Short's arc and just inside the tramlines
off-pace on a full length outside off. Lynn tugs it down the ground to long on
another slower ball, bowled into the blockhole on off stump. M Short squeezes it out to deep cover point
loopy low full toss outside off. Lynn powers it to the sweeper at deep cover point
wide yorker nailed to perfection. Lynn tries to scythe it past point but cannot get any bat to it
Normt: "Strange the power surge hasn't been taken. I would have thought the time has truly come for Strikers to improve NRR and Scorchers to attempt to limit the damage." -- The Strikers, though, will argue that they are going at close to ten runs per over, despite having not taken the Power Surge
full on middle and leg. M Short pokes it towards short mid wicket
length outside off. M Short drives it on the up to extra cover
length outside off. M Short throws his hands at it and slices it towards backward point
clean as a whistle! Back of a length on middle and off, and that is right up M Short's wheelhouse. Whips his hands through the ball and whacks it over the deep mid wicket fence!
back of a length on off. Lynn shuffles across and tucks it off his pads towards deep square leg
hard length in the channel. Seems to deck away and whistles past the outside edge of Lynn's bat as he looked to dab it away
very full on off stump. M Short defends it down the ground to mid off
Over 17 • AS 154/1
Strikers won by 9 wickets (with 23 balls remaining)