Perth Scorchers beat Melbourne Stars by 50 runs in a Big Bash League (BBL) match played on January 2 (Sunday) at the Junction Oval, Melbourne.
Stars, while chasing 180 runs got off to a flying start after their openers created a solid partnership of 78 runs off 51 balls. But Melbourne’s batsmen utterly failed to make full use of the good start produced by two openers- Joe Clarke (52 off 32 balls) and Thomas Rogers (32 off 25 balls) and lost their remaining 9 wickets within just 52 runs.
A total batting collapse
Apart from the two openers, only Charlie Wakim (20 off 24 balls) and Hilton Cartwright (12 off 10 balls) managed to reach the two-digit mark. Middle order’s poor batting display meant Stars could somehow reach a mere total of 130 runs in 18.5 overs, falling 50 runs short of their target.
For Scorchers, English fast bowler Tymal Mills picked up three wickets.
Earlier, Perth Scorchers skipper Ashton Turner won the toss and chose to bat first.
Opener Cameron Bancroft was sent back to the pavilion only in the third over of the innings after the Aussie managed to score just 5 runs. But the other opener, Curtis Patterson, played a superb knock and scored a half-century to help his side in reaching a commendable total of 180 for 8 wickets.
The 28-year-old Aussie scored 54 off just 39 deliveries and his innings was comprised of 4 boundaries and 2 sixes. Patterson looked pretty dangerous but Pakistan’s Haris Rauf eventually picked up the crucial wicket in the 12th over of the innings.
Patterson wanted to play a pull shot but eventually managed to play it squarer than he would have liked and ended it playing it down to Wakim at deep square leg.
Colin Munro played another gutsy innings of 40 off just 20 balls. The Kiwi hit 4 sixes to frustrate the opponent bowlers.
Melbourne Stars bowlers would surely be disappointed after they conceded 18 extra runs. Rauf and Afghanistan’s Qais Ahmad picked up two wickets each for the Melbourne side.
Bizarre incident
Meanwhile, skipper Turner and umpire Bruce Oxenford got involved in a pretty bizarre incident after the latter strangely reversed his decision after initially giving the batter out caught behind.
Turner tried to pull a delivery but missed it and the ball went to wicketkeeper Joe Clarke.
A noise was heard as the ball passed Turner, with Oxenford giving the Scorchers skipper out caught behind.
But Oxenford became thoughtful suddenly and started pondering his decision. Turner wasted no time in yelling out “helmet”.
Replays eventually proved Turner to be correct as the ball did miss the bat and come off the helmet.
