Adelaide Strikers 251 for 5 beats (M Short 109, Lynn 47, Ross 44*, Kuhnemann 3-50) Brisbane Heat 195 (McSweeney 43, D Short 4-15, Haskett 2-43, Pope 2-44) 56 runs.
Put in to bat on a very flat Adelaide Oval surface, the Strikers posted 251 for 5, highlighted by Short’s 109 off 54 balls after missing the last three matches. He reached his ton in 49 balls to set a new franchise record.
The Heat were never seriously threatened in the chase and were all out for 195 after 20 overs.
As a result, the Strikers, who started in last place, revitalized their season (3 wins in 8 games) and moved into striking distance of the Heat in 4th place.
Short/Lean Rampage Before Carey’s Short Knock in Season Debut
During Short’s absence, Lynn moved up from third to an open position and was successful enough to remain there. He dominated the power play and generally hammered Michael Neser and Xavier Bartlett, who were very reliable with the new ball.
Lynn hit 42 off 13 balls as the Strikers finished 0 for 62 in the most runs by a team in a power play this season. Short hit two sixes off left-arm quick Spencer Johnson as the Strikers moved to 81-0 after five overs.
Dominating the strike, Short soon surpassed Lynn to reach his half-century off 24 balls. In the first seven overs, Short and Lynn hit seven sixes but failed to score off just 11 balls.
But Lynn lost his rhythm and was ailing with a tight hamstring before falling to a quicker delivery from left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann.
Carey was finally in trouble, but lasted only eight deliveries after being bowled by a faster ball from Kuhnemann. But he hit arguably the best shot of the innings after a classy check drive sailed beautifully over extra-cover and into the crowd.
Short was unfazed as he hit his tone appropriately through the boundary line. Travis Head recorded the Strikers’ previous fastest century with his famous 53-ball ton against the Sydney Sixers on New Year’s Eve 2015.
It was a brilliant knock from Short, who recently played for Australia in white-ball cricket. He was still seen coming to the crease and hitting clean balls. He mercilessly targeted the shorter boundary on the leg side and finally got out to deep midwicket.
Alex Ross clubbed 44 off 19 balls at the death to keep the striker’s momentum going.
Spinners Kuhnemann, Swepson do their best.
Star quicks Neser, Bartlett and Johnson were unable to match length in rare off performances, while spinners Kuhnemann and Swepson made five between them in a fighting effort. I took a wicket.
They failed to survive, scoring 91 runs in eight overs, but at least they ensured that the Strikers did not falter from the BBL record of 273 runs for two, set by Melbourne Stars three years ago.
Kuhnemann picked up some steam in his first match since being selected for the Test tour of Sri Lanka, while Swepson cleverly mixed his bowling and was the most economical of the five bowlers used.
Debuting quick faces tough start, D’Arcy Short takes 4 wickets
On a surface that rivals the unforgiving pitches seen in the IPL, Strikers debutants Liam Haskett and Jordan Buckingham faced a difficult induction process.
Haskett impressed for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield last season, but a back injury delayed his start this summer. The tall left-arm quick got unstuck in the second over but initially struggled with length issues before Neser hit successive sixes.
Haskett was later dragged into a six-seat by Nathan McSweeney and surprisingly caught by his father on the terrace. He came back later to dismiss Tom Alsop and take 2 for 43 in 3 overs.
Buckingham, 24, has been given his chance in the BBL after an impressive performance in the Shield last season. Like almost all the bowlers in the match, he took some punishment but took the key wicket of Matthew Renshaw in the 14th over.
Monroe drops significantly in ranking after on-field injury
The Heat’s monumental task has become more difficult with skipper Colin Munro batting well down the order after suffering a dislocated left finger and a shoulder injury during a difficult time on the field. He came out at number 7 and made his second ball duck.
Neser was promoted to opening the store and ordered to go bankrupt, but was unsuccessful. McSweeney played several spectacular drives fluently and produced an attractive 43 off 24 balls.
But despite entertaining cameos from Renshaw, the in-form Max Bryant and Johnson, who hit 27 from 13 balls in the 11, he was run out trying to score his second as the Heat’s slim chances were effectively over.
Tristan Lavalette is a Perth-based journalist.
