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The Perth Scorchers were just about perfect in a nine-wicket win over the Brisbane Heat, who were unable to stop a far superior opposition.
REPORT: SCORCHERS CRUSH HEAT AT WACA
The game was set up by sensational team-bowling performance by the Scorchers. Each of the five did their job brilliantly, bowling with skill and discipline.
Most of the seven wickets that fell from the Heat were brought about by the sheer frustration of not having anything to score off.
Andrew Tye reaped the greatest rewards, taking three wickets, but even Joel Paris – who failed to get a wicket – was close to faultless.
The only positive for the Heat was the performance of their captain, Chris Lynn, whose 75 dominated the Heat’s total of 117. Lynn, despite being unable to truly break the shackles at the end, kept the pressure off himself by working singles and finding boundaries at a regular rate.
The Scorchers batsmen were never truly tested, but still, the clinical way they executed the chase was very impressive.
Marcus Harris provided some excitement early on with a brisk 36, while an at-times-streaky Ashton Agar justified his promotion to finish unbeaten on 24.
But Michael Klinger’s 53 was a masterclass. After battling to negotiate the early swing, the 35-year-old showed all his experience by guiding his side to the total with minimal risk and maximum efficiency.
Following three straight losses to start the tournament, the Heat may end up at the bottom of the table again.
Meanwhile, if the Scorchers play this way for the rest of the season, they have a very good chance of finishing champions yet again.
Final score
Brisbane Heat 7-117
Perth Scorchers 1-118
Both the Perth Scorchers and the Brisbane Heat will be looking to get their first win in this year’s Big Bash League when the two sides meet in Perth. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:10pm (AEDT).
After having made some shred signings the Brisbane Heat would have been optimistic that their fortunes this season could be very different to those of last year.
But after two games they find themselves on the bottom of the table once more.
In their first two games their opponents have ended with totals of 3/184 on each occasion. Furthermore, they are yet to have a batter reach 50, despite that being the more impressive aspect of their game.
Yet despite such an underwhelming start by the Brisbane-based team, the Heat will feel they have enough individual talent to turn their season around.
A big part of that talent is made up by their West Indian imports, who so far have not quite delivered.
Samuel Badree has only Sunil Narine in front of him on the ICC Twenty20 Bowlers ratings. But despite bowling well in his first game against the Renegades he is yet to register a wicket in the Big Bash.
However, despite being known as a pacers paradise, the Perth wicket often gives the spinners an edge, Badree’s fellow leg-spinner Adil Rashid taking a crucial 2/21 at the grounds first game of the season.
Brisbane’s other overseas specialist, Lendl Simmons, has also struggled early on in the big. With over 150 Twenty20 games under his belt, his experience is crucial to an otherwise inexperienced top three. One that strongly contrasts the Scorchers top order.
Michael Klinger, Shaun Marsh and Adam Voges may not put fear into the opposition dressing rooms in the same manner a top three such as the Renegades with Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch and Cameron White may. But the trios shares plenty of talent along with plenty of responsibility, registering the three highest scores for their side in their opening game against the Strikers.
Klinger made the lowest score of the three, but is one of the form players in world cricket, as well as being one of just two players to have over 1000 BBL runs.
If Klinger manages to capture the form that saw him carry Gloucestershire to the Royal London One-Day Cup then it may well be that he once again finishes the tournament as the leading run scorer. His wicket will be key for the Heat.
Having almost protected a fairly modest total of 151, it is clear the Scorchers bowling attack is still potent, having been the catalyst to the sides back to back title wins.
With Nathan Coulter-Nile and James Behrendorff injured it may well be that the Scorchers go for an extra spin option in James Muirhead or Ashton Agar, though they do also have Simon Mackin as another pace option.
Regardless of who the Scorchers select, their bowling line-up contains a good deal of variety and while they will miss the death bowling expertise of Yasir Arafat, David Willey could prove to be a fantastic replacement.
Prediction:
If the Heat are to stand a chance they will need to get early wickets and expose a somewhat soft Perth middle order. But considering the way their bowling attack had struggled early on this season, it looks likely the Scorchers will emerge victors.
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