The 2013-14 Big Bash League continues on the last day of the year with the Adelaide Strikers taking on the Perth Scorchers at the Adelaide Oval. You can follow the live coverage of the game below from 7.40pm AEDT.
It’s a match-up between the teams in the top four this early in the competition, with the winning side catapulting to the number one spot, at least for the time being.
The Adelaide Strikers started off well in their opening game against the Hobart Hurricanes but were thwarted by rain and had to split points.
If they showed good form with the bat in those six overs that were possible in that opener, it was followed by a adecent performance with the willow but an even more sterling bowling showing against the Sydney Thunder.
First Nathan Reardon cracked a 21-ball 32 to push them up to 153 in their 20 overs before Michael Neser picked up three and Johan Botha and Kane Richardson squeezed the scoring and pushed up the required-rate beyond control.
The Scorchers started off with a defeat in their first game to the Brisbane Heat but they did not disgrace themselves with the way they went about the task. It was followed with a poor showing with the bat against the Melbourne Renegades but their bowlers turned up with a performance to remember.
Not too often do targets of less than 120 runs get defended in T20 cricket and the Scorchers v Renegades game joined that very elite list of matches where such a record was created. And it was all the Scorchers who combined to dish out a solid, match-winning performance to notch up their first win.
Alfonso Thomas and Jason Behrendorff picked up a wicket apiece while Mitchell Marsh followed up his half-century in the opener with a couple of wickets. While Brad Hogg did not get any wickets, he ended with figures of 0/21 in four, whereas new recruit Yasir Arafat captured three.
With this quality in their bowling line-up, the Scorchers should be able to test the batting riches that have filled up the Strikers. Both Michael Klinger and Alex Hales are in good form while it may not take too much time for someone like Phil Hughes and Callum Ferguson to explode in a game.
The Strikers will still have that slight edge given their bowling line-up does not have too many chinks, but trust the Scorchers to fight hard in this one.
Join us for the Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers match in the Big Bash League 2013-14 on Tuesday and you can follow the live score of this game from 7.40 pm AEDT and post your comments below.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
160 was a good score I thought given that the pitch was slowing down but first Alex Hales and then Michael Klinger did well to never let up during the chase. It's a convincing one and that's put the Strikers to the number one spot in the points table for now. I am sure Klinger will be the man-of-the-match for his match-winning knock. That's it from me, I wish you all a very happy new year and hope to have you around for a lot more of domestic and international cricket in 2014! Ciao!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Six to finish it off and quite aptly by Klinger, who's hit his fourth six this innings. Ends unbeaten on 86 off 55 balls to ensure the Strikers' second win in the tournament! The Strikers have won by six wickets and with one over to spare.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
He's done it for his side, Klinger's has timed it so well that it's gone all the way and behind square-leg. Arafat's not had a great night after such a superb showing last game. Was angling into the batsman and Klinger has timed it to perfection and for a six! Three needed off eight.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A poor over from Thomas, who hasn't had the best of times in the BBL this season so far. 13 off that over. 11 needed from two overs.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Six, is this the shot that ends the Scorchers' chance in the game? Slower one from Thomas and Reardon has gone forward, opened his stance up and smashed it over mid-wicket for long six! A single next ball. 13 needed from 13.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Klinger has moved up to 70. On strike is Nathan Reardon, who will face Alfonso Thomas... ...wider and fuller and Reardon smashes it through the extra-cover region for a couple. 22 needed from 17.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Shot! Six! Wasn't the best of deliveries from Coulter-Nile, just that slight margin of error. It was wide outside the off and it was pitched right up to the bat. Klinger opened his stance and smoked it over the wide long-off region for a maximum. 4/136 in 17. 24 needed from three now.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Reasonable start to the over from Coulter-Nile, four off the first three balls, before Klinger looks to smack it away but does not get under it. Ashton Turner rushes across and prevents the boundary, but they get two. 4/128 in 16.4
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Another good over from Hogg and the Perth Scorchers have just about managed to keep themselves within touching distance of the Strikers. 38 needed from four. Another miserly over here and the Scorchers could become favourites here. Coulter-Nile comes back on for his final over.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
End of an excellent over from Coulter-Nile, concedes only four off it and takes a wicket. He has figures of 2/14 in 3. 4/117 in 15. 43 needed in 30.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Gone, Nathan Coulter-Nile has a wicket and it's a flick that's gone straight to hands at deep square-leg. Ferguson had a full-toss on the pads and it's been hit to the fielder, where Thomas takes a good catch. 4/115 in the 15th, 45 needed from 32. Coulter-Nile's second wicket.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Six overs remaining and the Strikers need a further 47. Not wanting to put the mockers on them but this has been as good a chase as you would see on a slightly slower pitch. 3/113 in 14.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Short of length and Klinger's cracked it through backward point for a four! That was the first ball on return from Arafat and it's a four that gets Klinger to his half-century! 3/110 in the 14th
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Six more! That's been thwacked over the long-on region for a six! Pitched right up to the bat from Beer and that's been hit over the long-on region for maximum by Klinger that keeps the Strikers within touching distance of the eight-run-an-over required rate. 3/106 in 13.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
This is a much better over for the Strikers and after some time that... ...Hogg had tossed it up to the batsman, and Ferguson has chipped it over the bowler's head for a four. There are eight other runs scored in the same over, which pushes the score up to 3/97 in 12. 63 needed from 8. That's almost similar to the required-rate they had started off with to begin the innings.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Here's one that wouldn't surprise too many:
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Bowled him! Beer bowls Botha! Arm ball from round the stumps, almost like a seam-up delivery that's jagged back into the batsman and he was looking to slog it away. He missed and that's pegged back the stumps. The captain has had to walk back. 3/84 in the 11th. Callum Ferguson comes in now. This is getting interesting.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Hogg continues to remain miserly with his bowling, conceding only five in the over. Beer continues and is into his third. 2/83 in the 11th
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Berry also reveals Hales was recruited into the side with a very specific purpose, to hit the ball during the Powerplay overs. Interesting to hear Gilchrist and Berry talk to each other. Gilchrist had taken over the wicket-keeping role in the Aussie team, overtaking Berry as the backup to Ian Healy, leading to some alleged friction long ago.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Michael Beer is back on. Strikers coach Darren Berry is on the microphone, and he admits the wicket is slowing up a little, which could make it difficult... ...off the very next one, Klinger has carved out a boundary to the off-side. A single off the last ball. 2/74 in 9