BBL 7, Match 34 Review: Perth Scorchers floor Hurricanes in humdinger, secures semi-final berth

Perth Scorchers and Hobart Hurricanes clashed at the WACA in Perth in today’s second encounter. The game held significance for the fact that both teams wished to ensure a spot in the top four. However, it was the Scorchers who rolled over the Hurricanes’ by five wickets climbed to the top of the ladder. Meanwhile, the George Bailey-led Hurricanes find themselves in a precarious situation after the defeat.

After winning the toss and electing to field, the Scorchers were greeted with some scorching stroke play by Matthew Wade. The left-hander took seamer Joel Paris to the cleaners and spanked 22 runs off his first over. The Hurricanes, subsequently, raced away to 41 runs in four overs courtesy the initial onslaught. However, Paris avenged back and dismissed Wade in the fifth over.

D’Arcy Short perished soon after as he found the hands of the mid-on fielder of Matthew Kelly’s medium-pace. However, it was Ashton Agar’s stupendous spell which rattled the Hurricanes. He foxed Ben McDermott into playing a false stroke and got him stumped. In the same over, the left-arm spinner cleaned up Daniel Christian.

Simon Milenko swept him over square-leg for a six, but apart from that he was right on the money and dished out 16 dot deliveries. Meanwhile, Hurricanes’ skipper George Bailey looked determined to take responsibility and shepherd his team to a respectable score. He didn’t score at a rate of knots but ensured that the scoreboard kept ticking.

On the other hand, Milenko played some powerful shots to propel the Hurricanes. He got a reprieve when he was caught by Hilton Cartwright off a waist-high full-toss by England’s Tim Bresnan. The partnership of 70 off 39 balls between Milenko and Bailey resurrected the innings. However, Kelly castled Bailey as the right-handed batsman tried to lap-sweep the ball over short fine-leg.

However, Milenko carried on in his merry way and accomplished his half-century in 29 balls, which included five sixes. Milenko eventually scored 66 runs off 37 balls and powered the Hurricanes’ to 167/5 in 20 overs. From the Scorchers’ point of view, Agar was effortlessly the pick of their bowlers with a spell of 4-1-14-2.

Right down to the wire

In an era of big bats and short boundaries, a target of 168 isn’t an overly daunting one, but the Scorchers’ batsmen were forced to stutter. Sam Whiteman tried to clear the infield, but a well-judged catch by Short gave the Hurricanes’ their first wicket. Michael Klinger promised with a couple of boundaries but perished to a bouncer from Barbados-born Jofra Archer.

Cameron Bancroft and Cartwright’s stand of 44 runs from 32 balls brought them back into the game. However, Christian knocked the latter’s stumps back to inflict another jolt to the Scorchers’ chances. The wicket turned out to be a blessing in disguise as Ashton Tuner stomped in with an intent to smash everything out of his presence.

Above all, the Scorchers’ required Bancroft’s class to take them deep into the innings. The Harare-born cricketer accomplished his half-century in 34 balls with a clean hit over the ropes. Nevertheless, to the Scorchers’ dismay, Tymal Mills sent him packing with a short-pitched ball. The onus now lied on Turner and skipper Adam Voges to steer their team past the finishing line.

However, Archer’s spectacular direct-hit from the leg-side boundary removed Voges. Meanwhile, the required run-rate mounted alarmingly for the Scorchers’ comforts. Nonetheless, the calm heads of the Ashton duos- Turner and Agar helped their team to the victory and cemented their spot in the semi-finals of the Big Bash League.

Ashton Turner smashed the winning runs and also notched a 27-ball half-century. The Scorchers will next play the Adelaide Strikers at the same venue in Perth on the 25th of January before moving to the knockout stages.

Brief Scores

Hobart Hurricanes: 167.5 in 20 overs )Simon Milenko 66*, George Bailey 37; Ashton Agar 2/14, Matthew Kelly 2/23)

Perth Scorchers: 168/5 in 19.2 overs (Cameron Bancroft 54, Ashton Turner 50*; Tymal Mills 1/25, Thomas Rogers 1/29)

Perth Scorchers beat Hobart Hurricanes by five wickets

Man of the Match: Ashton Agar