Tye swings BBL clash Perth’s way before Strikers rally
Murray Wenzel |
An AJ Tye curve ball has flummoxed Adelaide’s star batsman Matt Short to literally swing the Big Bash League knockout final in favour of the hosting Perth Scorchers.
The Strikers, missing a trio of stars, scrambled to 7-155 on Saturday at Optus Stadium against the Scorchers.
The winners play Brisbane on Monday on the Gold Coast for a spot in Wednesday’s final against the Sixers in Sydney.
With ILT20-bound Chris Lynn and Adam Hose unavailable, the pressure was on BBL Golden Bat winner Short to deliver again.
But the opener didn’t count on Tye (1-25 off four) producing one of the deliveries of the tournament to begin his spell.
The veteran unexpectedly floated up a 112km/h slower ball that hooped back into Short – only one ball has swung more this BBL season, according to Fox Sports – to knock him over.
Tye finished the innings on the bench, jogging off after an awkward stumble while fielding in the 18th over.
Short’s run-a-ball 13 was only his second score below 39 all tournament and came after the Strikers had replaced their big-hitting pair with bowling allrounders Ben Manenti and James Bazley.
The visitors sank to 4-48 in the 10th over when Harry Nielsen was run out by captain Aaron Hardie, with Jake Weatherald’s blazing innings (56 off 32) at least offering some hope.
The left-hander drove well over cover and down the ground off the spinners, and pulled the pace of Lance Morris powerfully in a superb rearguard effort.
But he got too adventurous and was bowled attempting to reverse-paddle Hardie, who then found Bazley’s edge later in the same over.
Manenti (23 off 20) enjoyed a late cameo before becoming Cooper Connolly’s (2-17 off three) second victim.
Henry Thornton (28 not out off 21) pushed the Strikers beyond 150.
Perth weren’t immune to late-season exits and will have two new faces at the top of their order, Marcus Harris returning to his native state from Victoria, and Sam Fanning making his debut.
Leg-spinning pair Cameron Boyce and Lloyd Pope will be crucial if the Strikers are to defend the total.
AAP
