Big Bash League: Adelaide Strikers defeat Sydney Thunder in Game 9
Thanks to another masterstroke from Matt Short, the Adelaide Strikers continued their perfect start to the BBL season with a six-wicket win over Sydney Thunder at Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide Strikers beat Sydney ThunderShort (65) was initially cautious on Tuesday night before exploding after the powerplay to send the rankings-leading Strikers past the Thunder with 5-150 to go and a 3-0 win with eight deliveries remaining.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That's three in a row to kick off our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BBL12?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BBL12</a> campaign! ✅✅✅ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StrikeShow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StrikeShow</a> <a href="https://t.co/BKzvjqycEo">pic.twitter.com/BKzvjqycEo</a></p>— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/StrikersBBL/status/1605161202279403520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
After the early exit of Jake Weatherald (seven), Short, the leading run-scorer this season, opened his shoulders and smashed five sixes in his blistering 44-ball knock.
Short, who was also stingy with the ball (0-13 from three overs), took a liking to Daniel Sams' offerings and dominated an 83-run second-wicket stand with Chris Lynn (28), who stepped into the unlikely role of second fiddle.
Both men failed to get to the excellent yorkers of left-arm pacer Nathan McAndrew (2-25), with Lynn's lock disturbed, and Short caught in front before English import Adam Hose (28*) provided the finishing touches.
"My job at the top of the order is to make runs and I feel like I'm doing that reasonably consistently now," Short said.
The Strikers' bowlers had put their team in a strong position after recovering from an early onslaught by Alex Hales.
The English champions' top scorer scored 68 but was held in check after scoring 36 of the Thunder's 39 powerplay runs.
The Adelaide crowd erupted in applause in the third over as the Thunder surpassed the world T20 record low of 15 runs they set against the Strikers on Friday night.
Hales joined young Ollie Davies (42) in scoring 63 runs before both fell to Colin de Grandhomme (2-25).
The Thunder, whose win-loss record dropped to 1-3, trailed by 2 79 at half-time before taking just 3 71 in their last ten overs, including only three boundaries.
Player of the match: Matthew Short won the MOM award for his brilliant knock (65 off 44 balls).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a start to the season he's having!<a href="https://twitter.com/KFCAustralia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KFCAustralia</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BBL12?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BBL12</a> <a href="https://t.co/fpFuCnVWAm">pic.twitter.com/fpFuCnVWAm</a></p>— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBL/status/1605161914447069185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Adelaide Strikers Squad
Playing - Jake Weatherald, Matthew Short, Chris Lynn, Adam Hose, Colin de Grandhomme, Thomas Kelly, Harry Nielsen (wk), Rashid Khan, Wes Agar, Henry Thornton, Peter Siddle (c)
Bench - Harry Conway, Ben Manenti
Sydney Thunder Squad
Playing - Alex Hales, Matthew Gilkes (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Oliver Davies, Daniel Sams, Alex Ross, Nathan McAndrew, Chris Green (c), Gurinder Sandhu, Brendan Doggett, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Bench - Ben Cutting, Toby Gray, Baxter Holt