Big Bash League: Perth Scorchers beat Adelaide Strikers
Ashton Turner was the match's hero as Perth Scorchers claimed a thrilling three-wicket win over league leader Adelaide Strikers at Optus Stadium despite a collapse in their batting
Perth Scorchers beat Adelaide Strikers.The Scorchers responded to the Strikers' disappointing score of 7-133 by coming back to win in the 20th over.
A 43-run partnership between Turner and Jhye Richardson stabilized the match, but the situation was still tense as the Scorchers needed 18 runs in the last ten balls.
Turner stepped up to the plate to deliver the death blow.
He hit a full toss from Henry Thornton for six runs over long-on, followed it up with a four through point and hit the next ball for six runs over backward point to end the contest.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Match Winner AT is our Player of the Match 💫 <br><br>4️⃣8️⃣ unbeaten runs and 🖐️ boundaries from the Skipper to secure the win tonight! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MADETOUGH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MADETOUGH</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BBL12?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BBL12</a> <a href="https://t.co/xFG4SlmKxc">pic.twitter.com/xFG4SlmKxc</a></p>— Perth Scorchers (@ScorchersBBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ScorchersBBL/status/1607376978986020864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
AJ Tye struck the winning boundary in the next over to secure the win with five balls to spare.
Turner finished unbeaten on 48 shots from 38 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes.
The result put Perth level with the Strikers and Melbourne Renegades at the top of the table.
The Strikers had bowled out the Sydney Thunder for 15 earlier in the month, and Adelaide were responsible for another demolition at the start of the Scorchers' innings.
Faf du Plessis hit part-time spinner Short (2-11 in two overs) with the second ball of the innings for six, but the former South Africa skipper was clean bowled off the next delivery.
Adam Lyth was caught down the leg side, and Nick Hobson was caught off star spinner Rashid Khan (1-15 in four overs) with 3-17 to go.
Josh Inglis (19 off 12 balls) provided the decider by scoring 18 runs in Thornton's second over.
But when Inglis was caught and bowled by Ben Manenti and Aaron Hardie (22) was bowled by Short, the score was 5-63.
Ashton Agar was the next to fall, but from then on, Turner took control and led his side to victory with a knock from the captain.
Earlier, Strikers' Chris Lynn fell victim to a classy run-out from Jason Behrendorff as the Scorchers restricted Adelaide to a below-par score.
The Strikers got to 2-59 after 11 overs, but with Lynn, at the plate, Adelaide still had a great chance to add a blockbuster final spell.
Those hopes were dashed, however, when Behrendorff landed a direct side-footer in the 12th over to dismiss Lynn for 35 off 34 balls.
Lynn had set off for a single after pushing the ball into the off-side, but Behrendorff grabbed the ball and smashed it home with a forearm throw, despite only being able to target a stump.
Andrew Tye took a couple of late wickets to get to 3-30, while Jhye Richardson (0-20) and spinner Peter Hatzoglou (0-22) were economical without reward.
Player of the match: Ashton Turner was named man of the match for his fine knock in the Scorchers' win
Perth Scorchers squad
Playing - Adam Lyth, Faf du Plessis, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis (wk), Ashton Turner (c), Ashton Agar, Jhye Richardson, Aaron Hardie, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Peter Hatzoglou
Bench - Matthew Kelly, Cooper Connolly, Hamish McKenzie, Cameron Bancroft
Adelaide Strikers squad
Playing - Henry Hunt, Matthew Short, Chris Lynn, Adam Hose, Colin de Grandhomme, Thomas Kelly, Harry Nielsen (wk), Ben Manenti, Henry Thornton, Peter Siddle (c), Rashid Khan
Bench - Jake Weatherald, Harry Conway, Wes Agar