England batter Laurie Evans at Perth Stadium in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2023-24 encounter between Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers. Despite coming in to bat in the 13th over of the innings, Evans smashed seven sixes and as many fours in his unbeaten knock of 28-ball 85. His whirlwind knock helped Perth Scorchers post 211/4 on the board and helped his side win by 42 runs.
Earlier, Adelaide Strikers skipper Matthew Short won the toss and opted to field first. Zak Crawley struggled whereas Whiteman scored 34 off 21 balls. Skipper Aaron Hardie contributed with a 30-ball 30 before losing his wicket to Jamie Overton. Josh Inglis could not convert a good start into a big score as he departed for a 19-ball 26.
Evans took on Overton in the 15th over smashing him for three sixes. He scooped, moved across, and muscled the ball over the boundary ropes. He hit David Payne for a six in the next over as well. He made James Bazley pay in the 17th over. He hit a six followed by two boundaries. With two consecutive twos, he reached his half-century from just 18 balls and then ended the over with another boundary.
After two relatively quiet overs, he went after Bazley in the final over. First Cooper Connolly hit a six, then Evans hit a couple of fours and sixes to push the score to 211/4. Evans batted with a strike rate of 303.57, the highest for a batter in BBL with 60 or more runs in an innings.
In the run chase, despite D Arcy Short's early wicket, the Strikers got off to a good start. Matthew and Chris Lynn used the powerplay overs. Lance Morris struck twice in consecutive overs to send Lynn and Adam hose packing. Lynn scored 27 runs from 16 balls. Matthew anchored the run chase and reached his half-century from 32 balls with a six. He had support from Thomas Kelly.
But Morris came back into the attack and dismissed him. The captain's 44-ball 74 included seven fours and a couple of sixes. In the 18th over, Morris struck twice to derail the run chase. He had support from Andrew Tye and Jhye Richardson as well. The Strikers were bowled out for 169 with four balls left in the innings. The Scorchers won the game by a comprehensive margin of 42 runs.
Evans was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ award but he was surprised that Morris did not get one despite an economical fifer.
“I’m surprised I’m here, thought it would be Morris with the fifer. He’s an amazing talent and there’s a great franchise behind him. To go and get 5 wickets when the game was on the line was brilliant. We expect to win here, we want to take it game by game from here,” the 36-year-old said in the post-match presentation.
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