Ashes hero Alex Carey‘s inspired return to the Big Bash was not enough to spare the Adelaide Strikers after a masterful Mitch Marsh knock that powered Perth to a 32-run win on Sunday night. Marsh belted 88 off 51 balls after sharing in an explosive opening partnership with Finn Allen (38 off 16 balls) at Adelaide Oval.
The pair combined for an incredible 69 runs off the four-over Power Play period to lay the platform for a massive 4-232 for the Scorchers. It was the fourth time this season that Perth have surpassed the 200 mark, with Josh Inglis (42) and Aaron Hardie (34) also providing late cameos to set up a huge chase for Adelaide.
Perth opener Mitch Marsh (L) and Adelaide’s Alex Carey (R, top) were on fire with the bat for their sides in an entertaining BBL clash in Adelaide. Pic: Getty/7Cricket)
Inglis’ eye-catching knock featured four fours and three sixes. But Marsh’s bid for a second century of the BBL season came unstuck in the 17th over when he holed out in the deep off Cameron Boyce (1-31).
The home side threatened to pull off a remarkable victory after reaching 2-139 after 12 overs. Carey (71 off 39) opened the batting alongside Matt Short (52 off 31) and the pair got the Strikers off to a brilliant start.
Jhye Richardson punished with the ball after Test axing
The Adelaide batters took a particular liking to the bowling of Scorchers quick Jhye Richardson, who was dealt a fresh blow after being dropped from Australia’s Test side. Richardson played his first Test in four years during Australia’s Ashes defeat against England in the Boxing Day Test, but was dropped for the fifth Test in Sydney.
And Carey showed no mercy on his Test teammate as he and Short belted the paceman all around the ground. Richardson (1-45) did manage to grab the late wicket of Luke Wood but he went for more than 11 runs an over and was Perth’s most expensive bowler.
Scorchers quick Jhye Richardson went for more than 11 runs an over in Perth’s BBL win after being dropped from the Australian Test side. Pic: Getty
Fortunately it didn’t prove costly for Richardson as the stunning 93-run opening stand from Carey and Short was finally broken by Hardie after debutant spinner Luke Holt helped slow down the scoring. It sparked a collapse of 6-14 for Adelaide as Carey became the second wicket to fall, courtesy of a diving Ashton Turner catch off Mahli Beardman.
English paceman David Payne was the pick of Perth’s bowlers with 3-35 off his four overs. Cooper Connolly (1-24 off three), Beardman (2-43 off four) and Holt (0-18 off two) also played crucial roles as Perth jumped into second spot on the ladder with the win.
with AAP