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Perth Scorchers (171/6) defeat Sydney Sixers (92) by 79 runs to win Big Bash League (2021/22)

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Defending champions Sydney Sixers will kick off the proceedings of the 11th edition of the Big Bash League on Sunday when they face Melbourne Stars at the Sydney Cricket Ground. As in the last 10 editions of the tournament, eight teams will be up against each other in a round-robin format in 56 games.

The top four teams will move to the knockout round of the tournament, which comprises five games – Eliminator, Qualifier, Knockout, Challenger and the Final. The summit clash is scheduled to take place on January 28 and the venue is yet to be announced.

Out of 61, 56 matches will be played during the group stage in the span of just 46 days.

==

Here is the complete schedule of BBL 2021-22:

December 05: Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Stars, venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (time: 14:05 IST)

December 06: Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat, venue: Manuka Oval, Canberra, (time: 13:45 IST)

December 07: Melbourne Renegades v Adelaide Strikers, venue: Marvel Stadium, (time: 13:45 IST)

December 08:

Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers, venue: University of Tasmania Stadium, (time: 13:05 IST)

Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat, venue: Optus Stadium, (time: 16:05 IST)

December 09: Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Renegades, venue: Adelaide Oval (time: 13:45 IST)

December 10: Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder, venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, (time: 13:45 IST)

December 11:

Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes, venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, (time: 13:05 IST)

Perth Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers, venue: Optus Stadium, (time: 16:00 IST)

December 12: Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars, venue: Sydney Showground Stadium, (time: 13:45 IST)

December 13: Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Renegades, venue: Metricon Stadium, (time: 13:45 IST)


December 14: Hobart Hurricanes v Perth Scorchers, venue: Blundstone Arena, (time: 13:45 IST)

December 15: Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers, venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (time: 13:45 IST)

December 19: Brisbane Heat v Sydney Thunder, venue: The Gabba, Brisbane (time: 14:10 IST)

December 20: Perth Scorchers v Hobart Hurricanes, venue: Optus Stadium (time: 13:45 IST)

December 21: Sydney Sixers v Adelaide Strikers, venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (time: 13:45 IST)

December 22: Melbourne Renegades v Perth Scorchers, venue: Marvel Stadium (time: 13:45 IST)

December 23: Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat, venue: Adelaide Oval (time: 13:45 IST)

December 24: Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Stars, venue: Blundstone Arena, (time: 10:00 IST)

December 26:

Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers, venue: Sydney Showground Stadium, (time: 12:35 IST)

Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades, venue: Optus Stadium (time: 15:45 IST)

December 27:

Hobart Hurricanes v Adelaide Strikers, venue: Blundstone Arena, (time: 12:35 IST)

Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars, venue: The Gabba, Brisbane, (time: 15:35 IST)

December 28: Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers, venue: Manuka Oval, Canberra, (time: 13:45 IST)

December 29:

Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat, venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, (time: 12:35 IST)

Melbourne Renegades v Hobart Hurricanes, venue: Marvel Stadium (time: 13:45 IST)

December 30: Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars, venue: Optus Stadium (time: 13:45 IST)

December 31: Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder, venue: Adelaide Oval, (time: 13:45 IST)

January 1:

Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat, venue: Blundstone Arena (time: 10:30 IST)

Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades, venue: Coffs International Stadium, (time: 14:00 IST)

January 2:

Melbourne Stars v Perth Scorchers, venue: CitiPower Centre, (time: 10:00 IST)

Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers, venue: Sydney Showground Stadium, (time: 13:45 IST)

January 3: Melbourne Stars v Melbourne Renegades, venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, (time: 13:45 IST)

January 4: Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers, venue: Metricon Stadium, (time: 13:45 IST)

January 5:

Adelaide Strikers v Hobart Hurricanes, venue: Adelaide Oval, (time: 12:35 IST)

Perth Scorchers v Sydney Thunder, venue: Optus Stadium, (time: 15:45 IST)

January 6:

Melbourne Renegades v Brisbane Heat, venue: GMHBA Stadium, (time: 12:35 IST)

Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers, venue: Optus Stadium, (time: 15:45)

January 7: Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars, venue: Adelaide Oval, (time: 13:45 IST)

January 8:

Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Thunder, venue: Marvel Stadium, (time: 12:35 IST)

Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes, venue: The Gabba, Brisbane, (time: 15:00 IST)

January 9: Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers, venue: Coffs International Stadium, (time: 13:45 IST)

January 10:

Melbourne Stars v Adelaide Strikers, venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, (time: 08:40 IST)

Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Thunder, venue: University of Tasmania Stadium, (time: 13:45 IST)

January 11: Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Sixers, venue: GMHBA Stadium, (time: 13:45 IST)

January 12: Brisbane Heat v Adelaide Strikers, venue: The Gabba, Brisbane, (time: 13:45 IST)

January 13:

Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes, venue: Sydney Showground Stadium, (time: 10:30 IST)

Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars, venue: Marvel Stadium, (time: 14:00 IST)

January 14: Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers, venue: Adelaide Oval, time: (14:45 IST)

January 15: Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder, venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, (time: 14:10 IST)

January 16: Melbourne Stars v Brisbane Heat, venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, (time: 14:10 IST)

January 17: Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Renegades, venue: Blundstone Arena, (time: 14:10 IST)

January 18: Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers, venue: Adelaide Oval, (time: 13:45 IST)

January 19:

Brisbane Heat v Perth Scorchers, venue: The Gabba, Brisbane, (time: 08:00 IST)

Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades, venue: Sydney Showground Stadium, (time: 11:10 IST)

Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes, venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, (time: 14:20 IST)

January 21: Eliminator, venue: TBA, (time: 05:30 IST)

January 22: Qualifier, venue: TBA, (time: 05:30 IST)

January 23: Knockout, venue: TBA, (time: 05:30 IST)

January 26: Challenger, venue: TBA, (time: 05:30 IST)

January 28: The Finals, venue: TBA
 
Teams:

Sydney Sixers (Playing XI): Josh Philippe(w), James Vince, Moises Henriques(c), Daniel Hughes, Jordan Silk, Daniel Christian, Tom Curran, Sean Abbott, Hayden Kerr, Chris Jordan, Steve OKeefe

Melbourne Stars (Playing XI): Joe Clarke, Peter Nevill(w), Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell(c), Hilton Cartwright, Beau Webster, Sam Rainbird, Samuel Elliott, Brody Couch, Adam Zampa, Syed Faridoun

Melbourne Stars have won the toss and have opted to field
 
Faridoun bowling too short till now, not geting much turn either. Action reminiscent of Paul Adams, could be a good find if he manages to turn the ball.
 
Sydney Sixers 213/4

Melbourne Stars 61 all out.
 
Big Bash League, Sydney Cricket Ground

Sydney Sixers 213-4 (20 overs): Philippe 83 (47), Henriques 76* (38); Couch 2-36

Melbourne Stars 61 (11.1 overs): Nevill 18 (14); O'Keefe 4-14, Abbott 3-14

Sydney Sixers won by 152 runs

Defending champions Sydney Sixers kicked off this year's Big Bash League tournament with an emphatic 152-run win over Melbourne Stars.

Sixers posted 213-4 - their highest score ever - with Josh Philippe making 83 off 47 balls and Moises Henriques an unbeaten 76 from 38 deliveries.

In reply Stars collapsed to a woeful 61 all out, with Peter Nevill making 18.

Steve O'Keefe took 4-14 and Sean Abbott 3-14 as Stars were bowled out in 11.1 overs at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

England's James Vince made a 29-ball 44 for Sixers, while Chris Jordan and Tom Curran took 0-15 and 1-9 with the ball respectively.

Nottinghamshire's Joe Clarke made just one in Stars' reply.

There are 15 English players signed up for this year's tournament, which runs until 28 January, with 61 matches in total.

BBC
 
Sydney Thunder vs Brisbane Heat, 2nd Match

Sydney Thunder Playing XI: Alex Hales, Sam Whiteman, Matthew Gilkes, Sam Billings (wk), Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Ben Cutting, Chris Green (c), Nathan McAndrew, Gurinder Sandhu, Tanveer Sangha


Brisbane Heat Playing XI: Chris Lynn, Max Bryant, Ben Duckett, Sam Heazlett, Jimmy Peirson (c & wk), Jack Wildermuth, James Bazley, Xavier Bartlett, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Liam Guthrie

BRH 140/8 (20)
SYT 20/1 (2.2) CRR: 8.57 REQ: 6.85
Sydney Thunder need 121 runs

Sydney Thunder won the toss and opt to bowl
 
BRH 140/8 (20)

SYT 141/3 (17.1)

Sydney Thunder won by 7 wkts

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Alex Ross
 
Alex Ross and Sam Billings’ 109-run partnership has shot the Sydney Thunder to a quick-fire seven-wicket victory over the Brisbane Heat, cruising home with 17 balls to spare.

Ross’ fearless batting saw him strike an impressive nine boundaries before a late flurry from partner Billings (five fours and a six) secured victory in game two of KFC BBL|11 at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

Ross and English import Billings were forced to rebuild early in the chase as Liam Guthrie (2-32) and Xavier Bartlett (1-21) reduced the Thunder to 3-32 in the fourth over, but despite pushing the required rate to almost 10 an over the Heat could not take another wicket for the match.

Earlier, a fierce bowling display from Thunder’s Daniel Sams (3-22) and two-wicket hauls from Gurinder Sandhu (2-17) and Nathan Andrew (2-33) helped restrict the Heat to 8-140 off their 20 overs.

A Heat batting collapse also cost them on the scoreboard with their only shining lights being Ben Duckett, who notched 46 off 35 balls and Sam Heazlett (42 off 37).

Brisbane Heat’s dynamic duo of Chris Lynn and Max Bryant did not last long after being asked to bat first by the Thunder, with Bryant removed in the third over (5 off 11) and veteran hitter Lynn just four balls later (9 off 7).

Nathan McAndrew opened the account for the Thunder in just the third over, removing Bryant, while Daniel Sams dismissed Lynn as the Heat slumped to 2-16.

Two dropped catches by Thunder’s Sam Billings and Matthew Gilkes off consecutive Ben Cutting deliveries in the 12th over saw Heazlett last another six balls, before he and partner Duckett made them pay with three boundaries in seven balls.

Heazlett and English signing Duckett combined for an 83-run partnership off 65 before Heazlett was caught and bowled by Sams.

The left-hander's departure opened the floodgates as the Heat lost 4-12 with Jack Wildermuth the next to fall for the Heat, caught behind off Gurinder Sandhu who continued his impressive start to the domestic season.

Duckett was removed just shy of a half century as Sandhu picked up his second wicket of the night and new captain Jimmy Pierson could only manage three off five deliveries, caught by Ross to a low catch at backward point as the Thunder tightened the screws late in the innings.

A late six by Xavier Bartlett (the Heat’s only maximum for the match) helped lift his side to something to bowl at with the tail-ender finishing 26 not out off 18 balls, his highest BBL score.

Bartlett continued with the ball where he left off with the bat, dismissing last season’s BBL leading run-scorer Alex Hales in the first over of the Thunder’s innings for a two-ball duck.

Matthew Gilkes took hold of the Heat’s bowlers briefly, piling on 20 off 10, including two fours and a six as his partner Sam Whiteman was removed by Liam Guthrie as the Thunder fell to 3-32.

From there Ross and Billings guided the Thunder gain the Bash Boost point by the eighth over before Ross upped the tempo after the drinks break.

Ross notched up his third half century for the Thunder and seventh in the BBL by the 14th over, smashing three boundaries in a row to steer his side towards victory.

He went on to make an unbeaten 61 not out off just 46 balls, while Billings finished 45 not out off 36 balls, leading the Thunder to a comfortable victory with almost three overs to spare.

The Heat face off against the Perth Scorchers on Wednesday in Perth, while the Thunder travel to Melbourne to take on the Melbourne Stars on Friday.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mat...eport-sydney-thunder-brisbane-heat/2021-12-06
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="in" dir="ltr">Wow JFM. Wow. &#55358;&#56623;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GETONRED?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GETONRED</a> <a href="https://t.co/gQIYgR4Ti7">pic.twitter.com/gQIYgR4Ti7</a></p>— Melbourne Renegades (@RenegadesBBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/RenegadesBBL/status/1468168569510772736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
https://www.cricket.com.au/news/match-report/bbl11-game-three-melbourne-renegades-adelaide-strikers-marvel-stadium-match-report-highlights/2021-12-07

Melbourne Renegades' James Pattinson held his nerve in the last over to deliver BBL|11 its first final-ball thriller after Jake Fraser-McGurk took a contender for catch of the tournament.

The veteran quick defended nine runs off the final over, conceding just six and taking a wicket, to hand the Renegades a dream start to this summer's campaign

Last summer's wooden spooners looked in trouble as Adelaide Strikers openers Matt Short and Jake Weatherald progressed the score to 45 in the fifth over in pursuit of a modest 9-153 at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday night.

But a stunning boundary catch from young gun Fraser-McGurk and an inspired spell from new recruit Zahir Khan turned the contest in the hosts favour.

The Afghanistan import, who defected from crosstown rivals the Melbourne Stars during the off-season, picked up Short (29) off his sixth delivery before Fraser-McGurk produced a specular leaping one-handed grab on the boundary to remove Weatherald (18) in Zahir's next over.

The 22-year-old Zahir then claimed Jonathan Wells (8) in his third over to finish with outstanding figures of 3-24 in a spell that turned the match for the Renegades.

When Will Sutherland took two quick wickets and Strikers batter Ryan Gibson was forced to retire hurt with a hamstring injury the hosts suddenly looked well on top.

Wickets continued to tumble but some late order hitting, boosted by the Power Surge, from Rashid Khan and Daniel Worrall pushed the visitors towards the total.

But ultimately nine off the final over proved too much for the Strikers tail-enders as Pattinson delivered the Renegades a much needed win.

Earlier, a late-innings collapse undid a promising start from the Melbourne Renegades young top order batters as the Renegades lost 6-9 in the space of 12 deliveries at the end of their innings with the Strikers experienced pace attack reeling in the good work of Mackenzie Harvey, Sam Harper and debutant James Seymour.

With injuries to key players, including Shaun Marsh and Australia's T20 World Cup winning captain Aaron Finch who was a late out, the 24-year-old Harper and 21-year-old Harvey were entrusted with opening up for the Renegades as stand-in skipper Kane Richardson won the bat flip.

It was a slowish start from the young openers with only two boundaries in the four-over powerplay as both swung hard but struggled to make contact.

Harper, who is coming off a breakout BBL|10 where he scored 351 runs at 27, broke the shackles from Peter Siddle's first ball of the tournament with a ramp just wide of the keeper for four.

Their hard running (the Renegades only hit six fours and five sixes for the innings) progressed their opening stand before Harper was out to an impressive return catch by off-spinner Matt Short.

Harvey pressed on and found a willing ally in Seymour, who hit his first ball in the Big Bash for six over deep square leg. Coincidentally, Seymour's first scoring shot in his debut Marsh Sheffield Shield match in April this year was also a six.

Together they neutralised the Strikers main weapon, Rashid Khan (1-30), until his second last delivery when Harvey was bowled for 56 trying to sweep.

It was Harvey's maiden fifty in the BBL after showing promising signs in nine games for the Renegades last year.

But when Seymour departed for 23 off 14 balls it opened the floodgates as Worrall, Strikers' captain Siddle (who was expensive up to that point) and English import George Garton took two wickets each across the next 12 deliveries as the Renegades slumped from 3-142 to 9-151 to post 9-153 from their 20 overs.

"It's nice to be on the winning side of one of those games because the past couple of seasons when it comes to the close games, we're usually on the wrong side of them," Harvey said.

"To have that experience James Pattinson bowling the last over, you always have good faith in him to get the job done.

"To get a win first up with our big names out and a pretty young side, it's pretty exciting to see what we can do when we do have those bigger guys back like Finchy, (Marsh) and Maddo (Nic Maddinson)."

The Renegades and Strikers face off again in a much-anticipated rematch on Thursday night in Adelaide.
Click to expand...
 
Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers, 4th Match

Sydney Sixers (Playing XI): Josh Philippe(w), James Vince, Moises Henriques(c), Daniel Hughes, Jordan Silk, Daniel Christian, Tom Curran, Hayden Kerr, Chris Jordan, Ben Manenti, Steve OKeefe

Hobart Hurricanes (Playing XI): Matthew Wade(w/c), D Arcy Short, Caleb Jewell, Peter Handscomb, Jordan Cox, Tim David, Tom Lammonby, Nathan Ellis, Joel Paris, Thomas Rogers, Sandeep Lamichhane

Hobart Hurricanes have won the toss and have opted to field
 
Innings break:

Sydney Sixers: 144/9 (20)

Hobart Hurricanes: Yet to bat
 
Sydney Thunder have won the toss and have opted to field

Sydney Thunder (Playing XI): Alex Hales, Sam Whiteman, Matthew Gilkes, Sam Billings(w), Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Ben Cutting, Nathan McAndrew, Chris Green(c), Gurinder Sandhu, Tanveer Sangha

Melbourne Stars (Playing XI): Marcus Stoinis, Joe Clarke(w), Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell(c), Hilton Cartwright, Andre Russell, Beau Webster, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa, Qais Ahmad, Brody Couch
 
Sydney Sixers (Playing XI): Josh Philippe(w), James Vince, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques(c), Jordan Silk, Daniel Christian, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Sean Abbott, Hayden Kerr, Steve OKeefe

Hobart Hurricanes (Playing XI): Matthew Wade(w/c), D Arcy Short, Peter Handscomb, Caleb Jewell, Tim David, Jordan Thompson, Tom Lammonby, Nathan Ellis, Joel Paris, Thomas Rogers, Sandeep Lamichhane

Hobart Hurricanes have won the toss and have opted to bat
 
SYT 151/5 (20)

MLS 155/4 (17.1)

Melbourne Stars won by 6 wkts

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Andre Russell
 
Glenn Maxwell's maiden KFC BBL hundred has been outshone by Josh Philippe as the Melbourne Stars suffered their second straight defeat to the Sydney Sixers.

Looking to atone for their 61 all out in the season opener, Stars' skipper Maxwell led the way for the hosts at the MCG with 103 off 57 balls to help his side post an imposing 5-177.

But that didn't deter Sixers young gun Josh Philippe who played perhaps his finest knock in the BBL so far as he finished 99 not out off 61 balls, falling agonisingly short of posting the visitor's first ever century in the competition.

The Sixers lost James Vince (9) early in the chase before skipper Moises Henriques and Philippe smashed a couple of huge sixes to take the score to 84 without further loss.

Australian T20 spinner Adam Zampa then grabbed the crucial wicket of Henriques (29) but Philippe kept going to post his third half century of the tournament as he continued his sensational start to the domestic season.

The 24-year-old was struck a nasty blow on the neck on 60 trying to pull Brody Couch but it didn't seem to faze him as he ramped his next ball over the keeper for four.

Jordan Silk played a handy innings of 25 not out from 19 balls as he and Philippe guided the Sixers home by seven wickets with two balls to spare.

Henriques said both Philippe's and Maxwell's knocks were pretty special to watch.

"Glenn put on a show, that was pretty special batting," he said on Fox Cricket after the game.

"It seemed to be wherever the fielders weren't he was hitting the ball and then Josh at the end basically replicated the same thing, whenever we needed a boundary he found a gap."

Earlier, Maxwell walked to the wicket with the Stars stumbling at 2-6 after both Marcus Stoinis (3) and English import Joe Clarke (0) fell cheaply.

The Stars' skipper's innings should have also ended prematurely on 15 but he was given a lifeline by Lloyd Pope who spilled a chance at fine leg.

The Sixers leg-spinner was then taken for 12 off his first over and was subbed out of the game for allrounder Hayden Kerr at the halfway point of the innings by coach Greg Shipperd.

The Stars posted the lowest four-over Powerplay of the tournament to date with 2-12, beating the Hobart Hurricanes from the previous night as Nick Larkin and Maxwell rebuilt the innings somewhat cautiously taking the score to 59 before Larkin fell to veteran allrounder Dan Christian.

Maxwell then put the foot down as he passed fifty, despatching left-armer Ben Dwarshuis for 20 off the 14th over as he and Hilton Cartwright (23) put on 85 for the fourth wicket.

The 33-year-old took just 19 balls to move from 50 to his maiden BBL century – and his fourth in T20 cricket – as he pushed the Stars total towards nine runs an over before he eventually fell for 103 in the second last over.

was a pair of centuries for Maxwell on the night as he also brought up 100 sixes in his BBL career when he flicked Dwarshuis over square leg in the fifth over, becoming just the second batter behind Chris Lynn (173) to reach the milestone.

"We lost two wickets early and the run rate wasn't really going anywhere so we needed to take some risks and get the game moving," he said during the innings break.

"I got a little bit of luck but you need to take that in this game.

"What I was able to do was get a couple of easy boundaries off my hip and then they changed their plans to me.

"I thought if they had of stuck over the stumps (there was) a couple more inconsistent areas and it might have been a bit tougher to score.

"Because they went away from their plans, I was able to cash in a bit on the wide stuff and when they bowled to my body, I was able to pick that up."

The win puts the Sixers back on top of the BBL|11 ladder but it was soured by a calf injury to wily spinner Steve O'Keefe.

The Sixers next face the Adelaide Strikers on Tuesday at home while the Stars travel to Tasmania to take on the Hobart Hurricanes on Christmas Eve.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mat...mcg-bbl11-maxwell-century-philippe/2021-12-15
 
The five remaining KFC BBL|11 matches scheduled to be played at Optus Stadium, Perth will be relocated to alternate venues.

This includes the match between the Perth Scorchers and Hobart Hurricanes, which had previously been confirmed as proceeding in Perth on Monday, December 20.

The decision to relocate all five matches has been taken due to state border controls and how they apply to entry into Western Australia, which means playing the matches at Optus Stadium is not possible. All teams would have travelled through New South Wales or Victoria within 14 days prior to the matches and will be unable to enter Western Australia due to their classification as extreme risk jurisdictions.

The League and Clubs will continue to prioritise the health and safety of players, staff, match officials, fans and the wider community during the KFC BBL|11 season.

The five matches being relocated from Optus Stadium are:
December 20: Perth Scorchers v Hobart Hurricanes, Blundstone Arena, 7:15pm AEDT
December 26: Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades, Marvel Stadium, 9:15pm AEDT
December 30: Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars, Marvel Stadium, 7:15pm AEDT
January 5: Perth Scorchers v Sydney Thunder, venue TBC, time TBC
January 6: Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers, venue TBC, time TBC

Matches on December 20, 26 and 30 will have unchanged start times from the original schedule. Start times for matches on January 5 and 6, originally scheduled to begin at 9:15pm AEDT, will be advised.

Ticket holders for the Scorchers v Hurricanes match on December 20 will be contacted directly regarding the refund process.

Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, said:

“We understand this is a disappointing decision for the Scorchers’ passionate fanbase, but in the current environment we want to provide certainty for members, fans, players, match officials and staff.

“While our preference was to play these matches in Perth, this was simply not possible under the current arrangements when all factors are taken into account.

“Our thanks go to the Scorchers for their understanding in these difficult circumstances. We are also grateful to all other affected Clubs, partners, broadcasters and venues for their ongoing flexibility as we navigate our way through the season.”
 
Sydney: England pacer Tom Curran has been ruled out of the remainder of the Sydney Sixers campaign in the 2021/22 season of the Big Bash League due to a back injury. Curran’s exit is a big blow for the defending champions, who are also missing the services of spinners Ben Manenti and Steve O’Keefe due to neck stress fracture and calf injury respectively.

“English international Tom Curran forced out of the remainder of the tournament after suffering from a troublesome hotspot in his back. Curran will return to the UK immediately to begin his rehabilitation,” read the release from the Sixers on their official website.
 
Teams:

Sydney Thunder (Playing XI): Alex Hales, Matthew Gilkes, Jason Sangha, Sam Billings(w), Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Ben Cutting, Nathan McAndrew, Chris Green(c), Saqib Mahmood, Tanveer Sangha

Brisbane Heat (Playing XI): Max Bryant, Chris Lynn, Ben Duckett, Sam Heazlett, Tom Abell, Jimmy Peirson(w/c), James Bazley, Xavier Bartlett, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Brisbane Heat have won the toss and have opted to field

SYT 196/7 (20)
BRH 143 (17.3)

Sydney Thunder won by 53 runs

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Saqib Mahmood
 
Last edited:
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They may be temporarily homeless, but the Perth Scorchers loom as the team to beat this KFC BBL season after crushing the Hobart Hurricanes for the second time in the space of a week.

Six days after posting a 53-run win over the Hurricanes, the Scorchers followed it up with a 42-run pummelling on Monday night.

Both games were played at the Hurricanes' fortress of Blundstone Arena, with the results lifting the Scorchers to the top of the table with a perfect 4-0 record.

Opener Kurtis Patterson cracked a BBL career-best 78 off 48 balls and Ashton Agar (30 not out off 11 balls) added some lusty blows at the death to lift the Scorchers to 7-167.

In reply, the Hurricanes crawled to 9-125, with tailender Wil Parker (25 not out off 17 balls) top scoring in a dismal batting effort from Hobart.

Patterson didn't take to the field for Hobart's innings because of a tight left quad.

The Scorchers have been on the road for the past three matches due to Western Australia's hard border, and they'll spend the rest of the season away from Perth even if they earn hosting rights for the finals.

Scorchers paceman AJ Tye continued his stunning season on the way to 3-19 off his four overs as he became the first bowler to take 100 wickets for a single BBL club when he dismissed Caleb Jewell who holed out to deep mid-wicket.

Spinners Peter Hatzoglou (2-29) and Agar (2-31) also played key roles with the ball as regular wickets meant the Hurricanes' chase never gained any momentum.

"Can't complain when we go four for four," Tye said on Fox Cricket after the match.

"It's a bit disappointing we didn't keep our record of bowling teams out, but we'll take the nine-for."

Hurricanes wicketkeeper Matthew Wade paid dearly for a missed stumping when Patterson was on 27 as the left-hander slipped over after misjudging a Sandeep Lamichhane delivery.

But Wade couldn't glove the ball and Patterson made the most of the reprieve as he successfully targeted the short boundary at Blundstone Arena to blast six fours and five sixes in a knock that propelled the Scorchers to a competitive score.

The Hurricanes made a surprise decision to sub out star paceman Riley Meredith at the 10-over mark, while Peter Handscomb was also dropped for the match.

Meredith, in his return from a hamstring injury, bowled the first over of the game and snared the wicket of Josh Inglis on the way to figures of 1-1.

"He wasn't due to play this game," Hurricanes coach Adam Griffith said.

"But he went really well with his rehab, so we were keen to try to sneak one over out of him and then sub him out to get him ready to go for the next game."

Meredith was subbed out for X-factor player Jordan Thompson, who went on to take 3-33 from his four overs.

Fellow paceman Tom Rogers (2-21 off four overs) snared the key scalps of Mitch Marsh (21 off 21 balls) and Ashton Turner (12) to help stem the tide during a crucial part of the innings.

The undefeated Scorchers now travel to Melbourne to take on the bottom of the table Renegades on Wednesday night, while the Hurricanes face the Stars at home on Christmas Eve.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mat...na-match-report-patterson-tye-agar/2021-12-20
 
Abbott creates history, Sixers sneak home over Strikers

Sean Abbott has become the KFC BBL's all-time leading wicket-taker as his Sydney Sixers snuck home in the last over against the Adelaide Strikers.

The 29-year-old allrounder – who was back in the Sixers' side after the birth of his first child Ella – moved past Ben Laughlin (111) as the most prolific bowler ever in the competition.

The right-armer, who now has 112 wickets in his 11 seasons in the BBL, also nabbed his 100th wicket for the Sixers (he has 10 for the Sydney Thunder) as he became the second bowler to reach the milestone for a single club after Andrew Tye achieved the feat for the Scorchers last night.

It took Abbott 83 matches to take over the mantle as the BBL's leading wicket-taker, eclipsing Laughlin's 96 games for the Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes.

His 3-24 off four overs helped restrict the Strikers to 8-147 off their 20 overs before he steered the Sixers home with a crucial 19 not out off 10 balls in a tense final over win.

Asked to bowl first by the Strikers, the Sixers were greeted by in-from Matt Short who flayed the first ball of the match through cover to the boundary.

He then proceeded to take 18 runs off the first Ben Dwarshuis over, hitting the third ball of the match over backward square leg and into the crowd.

But it was the milestone man Abbott who brought him undone when he induced a loose drive in the next over that was expertly held by veteran Dan Christian at point.

Abbott had his second an over later when Jake Weatherald ambitiously tried to launch him over wide long on but only succeeded in hitting it straight up in the air.

It meant Abbott was on a hat-trick chasing the wickets record, but they fairy-tale wasn't to be as he pushed it down leg for a wide.

Matthew Renshaw, who was in his first game back for the Strikers after representing Australia A, continued his good run of form this summer as he combined with Jon Wells for a 59-run third-wicket stand, which was Adelaide's highest partnership of the tournament so far.

But when they both fell with the score in the 80s to the wily Christian, it triggered a collapse as the Strikers slumped to 7-115.

Some late hitting from youngster Thomas Kelly (41 off 34 balls) in just his second BBL game at least gave the Strikers a competitive score to bowl at.

Christian, who also recently welcomed his first child Harper, was the other chief destroyer with the ball as he claimed 3-8 from three overs.

In reply, the Sixers' prolific openers Josh Philippe (23) and James Vince (21) both got starts before they were out in quick succession, and when Daniel Hughes also departed for seven, they fell to 3-63 and an upset looked on the cards.

Captain Moises Henriques (28) also got a start to put the Sixers back in control of the chase but when he and Christian fell in consecutive deliveries to Rashid Khan (3-20) in the 17th over the momentum swung back to the Strikers.

Jordan Silk (36 off 24 balls) combined with Abbott for a crucial 19-run partnership to put the Sixers on the cusp of victory before a six from young allrounder Hayden Kerr sealed the four-wicket win with four balls to spare.

Abbott said it was nice to get some time in the middle with the bat and get the opportunity to finish the game at the end.

He also said they were "pretty fortunate" to have someone like Kerr coming in at eight to help seal the match in the last over.

"He opened the batting for us a couple of years ago and scores a lot of runs in grade cricket opening the batting so although he's batting down at eight, he's probably not a number eight batter, so we're pretty blessed in our line-up to have him walking out at eight and icing the game there at the end," Abbott said on Fox Cricket after the match.

The win puts the Sixers level on points with the Perth Scorchers at the top of the BBL|11 table with four wins and a loss, although the undefeated Scorchers have a superior net run rate.

The Sixers next face the Sydney Thunder in the local derby on Boxing Day where they will be without England quick Chris Jordan who returns home after his five-game stint, while the fifth-placed Strikers take on the Brisbane Heat at home in two days' time.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mat...-record-rashid-khan-silk-christian/2021-12-21
 
The KFC Big Bash League has confirmed that both Perth Scorchers home matches scheduled for January 5 and 6 will be held at Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast.

The matches, to be played against Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers respectively, will begin at their original start times of 9:15pm AEDT / 8:15pm AEST / 6:15pm AWST.

The confirmation of a venue for both matches follows last week’s announcement that no further matches would be played in Perth during the KFC BBL|11 season. This decision was taken due to state border controls and how they apply to entry into Western Australia, which made playing the matches at Optus Stadium not possible.

Metricon Stadium has been chosen to host the matches on January 5 and 6 due to a variety of logistical and operational and fan-facing considerations that made it the preferred venue for both games.

The Perth Scorchers will also play ‘home’ matches at Marvel Stadium against the Melbourne Renegades on January 26 and Melbourne Stars on January 30.

The League and Clubs will continue to prioritise the health and safety of players, staff, match officials, fans and the wider community during the KFC BBL|11 season.

Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, said:

“The ability of our Clubs, players, staff, broadcasters, partners and venues to remain agile and keep the KFC BBL|11 season moving forward is nothing short of remarkable.

“We know these two additional matches at Metricon Stadium, including a rematch of the KFC BBL|10 Final, will provide even more summer family entertainment options for our fans on the Gold Coast.

“Our thanks go to all involved in securing a new home for these matches and to everyone who has made KFC BBL|11 season a safe and successful one thus far.”

Remaining relocated Perth Scorchers home matches in KFC BBL|11:

December 26: Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades, Marvel Stadium, 9:15pm AEDT

December 30: Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars, Marvel Stadium, 7:15pm AEDT

January 5: Perth Scorchers v Sydney Thunder, Metricon Stadium, 8:15pm AEST

January 6: Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers, Metricon Stadium, 8:15pm AEST
 
Ruthless Marsh upstages spectacular Finch return

Mitch Marsh has upstaged Aaron Finch's spectacular return to cricket with another swashbuckling innings to keep the Perth Scorchers unbeaten streak alive.

Finch, who was playing his first KFC BBL game since leading Australia to victory in the T20 World Cup final last month, was just as impressive as he matched Marsh's half century, but it wasn't enough to save his Melbourne Renegades from the ruthless Scorchers at Marvel Stadium.

Australia's white ball skipper brought up 10,000 T20 runs during his knock of 68 from 43 balls and looked his vintage best as he and new Renegades captain Nic Maddinson set about chasing down Perth's imposing 5-206.

The Renegades chase got off to the worst possible start as they lost in-form opener Mackenzie Harvey to a searing yorker from Jason Behrendorff on the second ball of the innings.Finch, though, didn't look like he had missed a beat during his month on the sidelines, crunching a beautiful off drive for three off his first ball.

He followed it up with five sixes, including several that landed in the second tier, as he a Maddinson put on 130 for the second wicket, the highest ever partnership for the Renegades, surpassing Finch and Brad Hodge's 126 in BBL|01.

Maddinson (67 off 41 balls) seemed like he was trying to hit everything out of the park as the pair put the Scorchers attack under real pressure for the first time this season.

When Maddinson fell to a stunning caught behind by Inglis off Marsh, who got himself into the game with the ball as well, Finch followed soon after when he holed out to long on off the bowling of Ashton Agar (2-23).

That pretty much signalled the end of the resistance, and with Mohammad Nabi falling first ball, the Renegades just didn't have enough firepower left in the sheds, finishing 21 runs short on 5-185.
Earlier, the hosts got off to a dream start after Perth elected to bat first, with firebrand James Pattinson removing the out-of-sorts Josh Inglis in the second over of the match.

But that only brought arguably the most in-form T20 batter in the world to the crease in Marsh who continued his brutal assault on all bowlers.

The Australia T20 No. 3 was given a life early when Jake Fraser-McGurk, who took an absolute hanger during the Renegades last game at Marvel Stadium, trod on the rope and spilled a tough chance for six.

It didn't stop Marsh as he crunched that Pattinson over for 17, going on to hit five sixes and five fours as he pummelled the host's attack to all corners of Marvel Stadium for partnerships of 62 and 70 with Cameron Bancroft and Colin Munro.Marsh, who finished with 86 off 53 balls, looked odds on for his second century of the tournament before he was undone by a nice catch by Maddinson at cover.

The 30-year-old didn't look impressed as he left the arena as he was the second wicket in the over with Colin Munro (20) also falling to Kane Richardson.

But just as the Renegades looked like pulling the Scorchers up a little bit, a horror over from English quick Reece Topley gifted Perth 24 runs off the penultimate six balls.

Topley, who had only conceded 20 off his three overs to that point, bowled two over the waist no balls, which fellow Englishman Laurie Evans promptly despatched to the boundary.The first he hit over point for six, while the second was almost so high that he couldn't reach it, but he just managed to get the toe of the bat on it to guide it between the keeper and short third man for four.

Evans then smacked the subsequent free hit straight down the ground for four, and the last ball of the innings from Kane Richardson emphatically over cover off the back foot for six, as his blistering 42 not out off 16 balls pushed the Scorchers past 200 off their 20 overs and to their second highest total ever.

The loss leaves the Renegades at the bottom of the BBL|11 table with just one win from four games, while the Scorchers sit top undefeated from their five games.

The two sides face off again in four days' time at Marvel Stadium on Boxing Day.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mat...rvel-stadium-marsh-finch-maddinson/2021-12-22
 
English batter Ben Duckett has put the Brisbane Heat's KFC BBL|11 campaign back on track with his maiden half century in the competition helping down the Strikers in Adelaide.

After a couple of quiet games, Duckett got back among the runs as he registered the Heat's first fifty of the season as they posted an imposing 7-208 at Adelaide Oval.

Chris Lynn (10 off five balls) and Tom Cooper (16 off five) both made quick starts as skipper Jimmy Peirson won the bat flip and elected to bat first.

Duckett got going immediately with a boundary from his third ball as the left-hander and opener Max Bryant put on 40 for the third wicket at more than 10 an over.

Both batters targeted Strikers superstar Rashid Khan, not allowing him to settle before Bryant attempted one heave too many and was out for 32 off 20 balls in the seventh over.

From there it was the Duckett and Sam Heazlett show as the 27-year-old Englishman swept, reverse swept and lapped his was to 78 from 47 balls.

He was especially damaging against part-time off-spinner Matt Short, taking his solitary over for 20 runs, while the Strikers English import George Garton also copped the treatment as his power surge over was smashed for 26.

The 42 runs Heazlett and Duckett took of the two power surge overs was the highest of BBL|11 so far as they put on 114 for the fourth wicket, the Heat's fifth highest partnership ever.

Both were out in successive balls to Rashid (3-34) in the 18th over but the damage was done as Peirson whacked 11 off five deliveries to finish the innings in style for the Heat.

Heazlett finished with 49 from 30 balls, his third score in the 40s this BBL season.

Duckett said it was nice to contribute to the win after the Heat's "pretty disappointing" first game back at the Gabba.

"The way that Coops (Cooper) went out and whacked it from ball one meant I could just get myself in and assess conditions," he said on Fox Cricket after the match.

"To be honest it wasn't the prettiest innings I've ever played, I got a bit of luck but managed to find the boundary a bit at the end."

In reply, the Strikers lost both openers Matt Short (14 off four balls) and Jake Weatherald (1) inside the first two overs as they set about chasing the monstrous score of 208, which was the third highest BBL total at Adelaide Oval.

Jon Wells (55 off 41) and Matt Renshaw (22) then put on 71 for the third wicket but they couldn't quite keep up the pace as the required run rate ballooned to more than 15 an over by the time Wells was out in the 13th over.

From there the chase petered out despite the efforts of Thomas Kelly, who backed up his 41 against the Sydney Sixers in the last game with 27 from 22 balls.

Garton, who went for a whopping 48 runs off his three overs with the ball, redeemed himself somewhat with three sixes in a row off Matt Kuhnemann (3-47) before the left-arm spinner pinned him in front with a quicker ball attempting a reverse sweep.

Mark Steketee was the pick of the Heat's bowlers with 3-27.

The Strikers eventually finished 39 runs short on 8-169 as they slumped to a 1-4 record as they prepare to face the Hobart Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena next on December 27.

It was the Heat's second win of BBL|11 and moves them up to fourth on the table ahead of their clash against the Melbourne Stars at the Gabba on December 27 as well.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mat...ckett-heazlett-wells-rashid-garton/2021-12-23
 
HBH 180/6 (20)
MLS 156/9 (20)

Hobart Hurricanes won by 24 runs

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Nathan Ellis

==

Faridoun seems to be sidelined
 
Huge six!

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 125.000%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/ms6i64" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
 
I haven't watched much this season but the dirth of Australia's best cricketers being in the Ashes squad and a fewer than usual international players has really helped the younger Aussies shine. Just the other day I saw a 200+ score. The Aussies will be well prepped for the next world t20.
 
Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers, 20th Match

Sydney Thunder won the toss and opt to bowl

SYS 11/0 (2.2) CRR: 4.71
Rain stops play


Sydney Thunder:

Matthew Gilkes, Alex Hales, Jason Sangha, Sam Billings (wk), Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Ben Cutting, Nathan McAndrew, Chris Green (c), Saqib Mahmood, Tanveer Sangha

Bench: Gurinder Sandhu, Sam Whiteman, Lachlan Hearne


Sydney Sixers:

Josh Philippe (wk), James Vince, Moises Henriques (c), Daniel Hughes, Jordan Silk, Daniel Christian, Sean Abbott, Hayden Kerr, Ben Dwarshuis, Todd Murphy, Lloyd Pope

Bench: Shadab Khan, Mickey Edwards, Jack Edwards, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Nick Winter
 
SYS 168/4 (16)
SYT 12/1 (1.5) CRR: 6.55 REQ: 11.36
Sydney Thunder need 161 runs in 85 balls - Match reduced to 16 overs per side due to rain, DLS Target 173
 
Melbourne Renegades have won the toss and have opted to bat

Teams:

Perth Scorchers (Playing XI): Cameron Bancroft, Josh Inglis(w), Mitchell Marsh, Colin Munro, Ashton Turner(c), Laurie Evans, Ashton Agar, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Peter Hatzoglou, Tymal Mills

Melbourne Renegades (Playing XI): Mackenzie Harvey, Aaron Finch, Nic Maddinson(c), Sam Harper(w), Jake Fraser, Mohammad Nabi, Will Sutherland, Jack Prestwidge, James Pattinson, Reece Topley, Zahir Khan
 
A brutal display of power hitting from Daniel Hughes and Dan Christian has handed the reigning champions a comfortable victory over their KFC BBL crosstown rivals the Sydney Thunder.

In a rain reduced match at the Sydney Showground Stadium on Boxing Day, Hughes seized the momentum after the resumption before Christian finished their innings superbly, striking at 241 as he took 38 runs off the final two overs, which ultimately proved the difference in the match.

It was an on again, off again start to the Sydney Smash with two short rain delays to begin the match, which was eventually reduced to 16 overs a side after the second break.

It didn't faze the in-form Josh Philippe though, who ramped the second ball after the first resumption for six off England speedster Saqib Mahmood.

He fell shortly after but that only brought Hughes to the crease, who revelled in his first real opportunity to get some time in the middle this BBL season with a damaging half century.

The left-hander whacked five sixes and a four to finish with 50 off just 26 balls as he pushed the Sixers' run rate above 10 an over.

He was ably supported by James Vince (31 off 29) and Moises Henriques, who hit his first ball for six over mid-wicket and his third for four before he was out fourth ball for a highly entertaining 10 runs.

Hughes put on 42 with Jordan Silk (18no off 12) for the fourth wicket before veteran Dan Christian entered and carried on from where Hughes left off.

The right-hander struck four boundaries and two sixes in his 41 not out from 17, leaving the Thunder attack shell-shocked and with no answers of how to stem the tide.

The 38-year-old took a liking to Mahmood in the penultimate over, pummelling it for 17 runs, before he unleashed in in the last with Nathan McAndrew conceding 21 as the Sixers posted 4-168 from their 16 overs.

It left the Thunder needing 173 runs to win after the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method was applied.

In reply, the Thunder lost their star English imports cheaply with Alex Hales (14 off six) and Sam Billings (9 off six) departing within the first six overs as they fell to 3-59.

But 22-year-old Jason Sangha, in his second game of the season and 15th overall, kept the Thunder up with the required rate with a quick-fire 47 off 30 balls that included six fours and a six.

Sangha struck three fours in a single over off Hayden Kerr to keep the Thunder in the hunt as he backed up the 39 he scored in their previous game against the Heat.

Alex Ross (16) came and went as Daniel Sams bludgeoned four sixes as the required run rate continued to hover around 12, giving the Thunder fans some hope they could pull off a miracle chase.

But when he fell for 28 off 11 balls, Nathan McAndrew and Chris Green also departed in quick succession as the required rate spiralled, leaving the Thunder needing 37 from the final two overs.

It proved too much for Ben Cutting (10), with the Thunder ending up 30 runs short as they were bowled out for 142 in the final over.

Kerr bounced back from a disastrous first over, which Sangha took for 14, to claim his wicket as well as McAndrew and Green to finish with 3-29, his best T20 figures.

The win puts the Sixers level on points with the Scorchers at the top of the BBL|11 table with five wins from their six matches, although Perth have a chance to go a game clear again in the late match of a Boxing Day double header.

The Sixers next face the Heat at the SCG on December 29 where they are likely to welcome star Pakistan leg spinner Shadab Khan into their XI, while the Thunder face Scorchers in Canberra in two days' time.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mat...eport-hughes-christian-kerr-sangha/2021-12-26
 
https://www.cricket.com.au/news/match-report/perth-scorchers-beat-melbourne-renegades-bbl11-boxing-day-marvel-marsh-munro-harvey-behrendorff/2021-12-27

Another disappointing batting performance from the Melbourne Renegades and a dominant partnership from Mitch Marsh and Colin Munro has kept the Perth Scorchers perfect KFC BBL|11 record intact.

Set a modest 152 for victory, player of the match Marsh and Munro cantered home with 19 balls to spare as the Scorchers won by eight wickets at Marvel Stadium on Boxing Day.

Ultimately, despite another promising start, the Renegades batting again suffered a familiar fate that it has all season.

With senior batters Aaron Finch (8) and skipper Nic Maddinson (3) falling cheaply, the daunting responsibility of putting up a competitive total against an imposing Scorchers unit fell to their young batting line-up.

There were promising signs, as there always seems to be, but again the wickets fell in clumps – from 1-68 to 4-83 and 4-99 to 7-105 – as they just couldn't stop the wickets tumbling once the Scorchers seized the momentum.

Harper looked good for his 33 off 25 balls – his third score in the 30s for tournament without a half century – before he picked out Cameron Bancroft in the deep off Ashton Agar.

Jake Fraser-McGurk hit a towering six over square leg second ball but fell on the fourth one he faced attempting to launch another that he just seemed to try and force too much.

Mackenzie Harvey again looked flawless on his way to 45 off 40 balls but a lapse in concentration cost him his wicket when he started jogging halfway through a quick single with the subsequent direct hit from Laurie Evans catching him short of his ground.

When allrounder Will Sutherland chipped a simple chance to mid-off – the fourth single figure score of the Renegades middle-order – they had slumped to 7-105 and all hope of a sizeable total seemed to have faded.

Jack Prestwidge (22no off 11 balls) and James Pattinson (16 off eight) restored some respectability to the scoreboard as they took 44 runs from the last three overs of the innings, but realistically their 8-151 from their 20 overs was never going to be enough to contain Marsh.

The most in-form T20 batter in the world never looked troubled – even when he was struck in the head by a Sutherland bouncer – in his 42 not out from 33 balls.

The Renegades attack, which was missing the BBL's third highest wicket-taker of all time in Kane Richardson through a non-COVID related illness, struggled to get regular breakthroughs as Marsh and Munro piled on the pain with an unbeaten 99-run third-wicket partnership.

The Kiwi left-hander was the aggressor late in the innings as he struck 24 runs from his last seven balls to finish the match in a hurry as the clock ticked over midnight in Melbourne in the second match of a double header.

He finished unbeaten on 58 from 32 balls in a knock that included six fours and two sixes as the 34-year-old took his runs tally to 204 for the tournament.

Openers Cameron Bancroft (23) and Josh Inglis (23) also chipped in with handy contributions as the Scorchers cemented their spot at the top of the BBL|11 table.

Earlier, Jason Behrendorff was the pick of the Scorchers bowlers with a superb 2-19 from four overs, while Agar (2-38) and Tymal Mills (2-36) both claimed two scalps.

Maddinson claimed his first wicket for the Renegades with his part-time finger spinners trapping Bancroft in front.

On another sour note for the Renegades, Australia's T20 World Cup winning captain Finch appeared uncomfortable in the field as he was spotted limping on his troublesome knee, which caused him to miss the first three games of the tournament.

The Scorchers next face the Sydney Thunder in Canberra in two days' time, while the Renegades face the Hobart Hurricanes at Marvel Stadium again on December 29.
Click to expand...
 
A Ben McDermott masterclass has steered the Hobart Hurricanes to victory over the Adelaide Strikers in a batting dominated fixture at Blundstone Arena.

The 27-year-old belted 12 fours and five sixes in a brutal but circumspect knock that saw the hosts to comfortably chase down the Strikers' 5-175 inside the penultimate over.

It was the right-hander's second KFC BBL ton, and second of the summer after he hit another century in the final Marsh One-Day Cup match before the Big Bash break where he also guided Tasmania to victory in a huge chase against Western Australia.

The Strikers opted to make first use of the wicket after winning the bat flip, but started slowly, losing the in-form Matt Short for just two in the second over – but this only brought Matthew Renshaw to the crease who set about increasing the scoring rate.

Renshaw showed great intent from the outset, manoeuvring the ball into gaps and continually finding the boundary, as he and Jake Weatherald began to put together a strong partnership.

Renshaw's positive start seemed to help Weatherald find his own rhythm, with a 14-run over off overseas spinner Sandeep Lamichhane helping swing the momentum the way of the Strikers.

The Hurricanes were forced to turn to part time spinners Tim David and D'Arcy Short for four overs, and while only going for 28 all up, the Strikers duo were constantly finding gaps and running well between the wickets as they built a big total.

Sitting on 79 at the drinks break, the Strikers looked to capitalise on Renshaw and Weatherald's clean striking by taking the power surge soon after in the 12th and 13th overs.

It paid dividends, with 16 coming off the first, delivered by Ellis, and 11 from Rogers' second, leaving the Strikers poised to go big at 1/125 with six overs remaining.

However, Riley Meredith struck a double blow in the next over, dismissing Weatherald for 51, and Renshaw (63 off 41) just three balls later, who holed out to deep mid-wicket for his maiden fifty in Strikers colours, an innings that included nine boundaries.

Weatherald's wicket broke a 118-run partnership between he and Renshaw, the Strikers' highest of BBL|11, and their fifth highest of all time.

From there, Jonathan Wells (17 off 13), and young gun Thomas Kelly (28 off 18), who has been impressive in his late innings cameos, kept the scoreboard ticking as the Strikers reached a more than competitive 5-175 from their 20 overs.

The Hurricanes used seven bowlers in total and were led by Meredith who took 3-37.

In reply, the Hurricanes had a mixed start, with George Garton's first over going for 13, largely off the bat of McDermott, but he also snared the crucial wicket off Matthew Wade for just six after he smashed a pull shot straight to Weatherald in the deep.

This meant McDermott was joined by D'Arcy Short who hasn't been his usual destructive self in BBL|11, and the former took on the aggressor role as Short again started his innings slowly.

McDermott took a liking to veteran spinner Fawad Ahmed, blasting three boundaries off his first over, while he also hit a brutal six over cow corner sailed into the Blundstone Arena car park.

The Hurricanes reached 82 by the halfway point as a fortunate edge to the third man boundary helped Short get his strike rate above a run a ball.

Just as the Strikers had, the 'Canes took the power surge soon after the break with their two set batters at the crease, but it wasn't as smooth sailing as their opponents.

Honours were shared after nine runs were taken off Rashid Khan in the first of the two before Peter Siddle trapped Short (37 off 32) in front.

Short's disapproval mattered not, as the Hurricanes left the power surge with just 14 runs as the Strikers edged ever so slightly ahead in the game.

But from there on, it was all McDermott.

The 27-year-old, who passed fifty during the power surge overs, took complete control of the innings following the removal of Short.

Both brutal, and circumspect, McDermott constructed the perfect T20 innings and played each ball on its merits as he rapidly put the home side in the box seat.

No bowler knew where to put it to the star opener, who brought up his century with a beautiful clip off the legs for six from a Wes Agar full toss, before hitting the winning runs in the same over with nine balls to spare.

He finished unbeaten on 110 in one of the most complete BBL innings in the competition's 11-season history, barely needing his teammates contributions to seal the win.

It puts McDermott into fourth on the run scorers list for the season with 226, as he backed up his 67 against the Melbourne Stars on Christmas Eve.

The Strikers' bowlers finished with little to celebrate, with only three single wicket takers, and the likes of Agar (0-44 off three and a half overs) and Fawad Ahmed (0-36 off four) feeling the full wrath of McDermott.

The victory sees the Hurricanes square their season ledger at three wins and three losses, cementing their spot in third on the ladder, while the Strikers sit outside the top five, with just one win to their name.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mat...-mcdermott-century-matthew-renshaw/2021-12-27
 
Brisbane Heat young gun Liam Guthrie has the unwanted record of the most expensive spell in BBL history as his side fell to the Melbourne Stars on Monday night.

Guthrie, 24, was smashed for seven sixes en route to figures of 2-70 from just four overs as the Stars finished 9-207 at the Gabba.

Stars duo Joe Clarke (85) and Hilton Cartwright (79) smashed 151 runs together, the highest fourth wicket stand in BBL history.

The Heat chase was on track with Chris Lynn (57) smashing sixes to all corners, but the result was sealed when was caught on the fence by Andre Russell in the 13th over.

Ben Duckett (54) was also impressive for the Heat before he fell to Nathan Coulter-Nile (1-32) in the 11th over.

The tail wagged a little but the Stars still won by 20 runs as the heat finished 9-187.

Duckett hit three reverse sweep boundaries, with his third launching for six and grabbing the attention of Australian cricket legend Adam Gilchrist.

“That’s one of the best cricket shots I’ve ever seen,” Gilchrist said on the Fox Cricket commentary.

Chris Lynn (30 not out off 23 balls) is the other man at the crease after Tom Cooper (8) and Max Bryant (2) fell early.

The Stars were in trouble early in their batting innings after a sharp catch dismissed Marcus Stoinis with the second ball of the match.

But the visitors mounted an epic fightback as Clarke and Cartwright put on their historic partnership.

The Stars were in all sorts at 3-16 before the pair settled in and smashed 20 runs off the seventh over, bowled by Guthrie.

Clarke hit an incredible ramp shot for six off James Bazley (2-40) on the first ball of the 12th over.

He brought up his 50 the next over with a huge slog sweep over cow corner, while Cartwright finished with eighth maximums of his own.

Heat wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson took a diving catch off the bowling of Mark Steketee (3-40) to send Stoinis packing for a duck on Monday night.

Joe Burns (2) was the next man out, clean bowled by Liam Guthrie, and Glenn Maxwell (2) quickly followed suit when he was caught behind.

Then came the mammoth partnership and incredibly, Qaid Ahmad (16) only one other player to hit double digits.

It is the Stars third biggest total in club history.

Matt Kuhnemann (1-24) and Mujeed Ur Rahman (1-31) also picked up wickets for the Heat.

In Heat’s chase, the only other batsman to make runs was Heazlett (26) as Brody Couch (3-34) and Qaid Ahmad (3-26) prove the pick of the Stars’ bowlers.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...n/news-story/39208d04c4ee5ee731ff91c85d5e9153
 
Cricket.com.au

<b>Dominant Thunder end Scorchers' undefeated streak.</b>

<I>Young gun Jason Sangha and Englishman Sam Billings fired for a record partnership as the Sydney Thunder handed the Perth Scorchers their first defeat of BBL|11.</I>

Perth Scorchers have suffered their first defeat of KFC BBL|11 after being comprehensively outplayed by the Sydney Thunder in Canberra.

The Thunder, returning to their alternative home at Manuka Oval where they won their previous match against the Brisbane Heat, dominated from start to finish as they piled on 7-200 against an uncharacteristically sloppy Perth attack.

The moment that summed up the night for the Scorchers was when AJ Tye – the competition's fourth leading wicket-taker of all time and BBL|11's top bowler – was booted from the attack when he delivered two above-the-waist full tosses that were deemed dangerous in his second over.

It was a horror three balls for the 35-year-old who delivered a chest high full toss at Alex Ross the first ball he faced, a wide and then another chest high full toss that Ross promptly dispatched to the rope.

That was when the umpires moved in and removed Tye from the attack after just nine legal deliveries with figures of 1-26.

The red-hot Mitch Marsh also had a rare night to forget of late, conceding 50 runs from his four overs before clipping a ball off his pads straight to the fielder on the boundary to depart for just six with the bat.

Leg-spinner Peter Hatzoglou was also subbed out at the 10-over mark of the first innings after conceding just three from his solitary over, before his X-factor replacement Lance Morris went for 12 runs during his first.

It was in-form batters Jason Sangha and Sam Billings that did the damage after being asked to bat first by Scorchers' captain Ashton Turner.

Matthew Kelly, back in the side after England speedster Tymal Mills was rested, got the visitors off to a dream start by removing both Thunder openers within the four-over powerplay.

Alex Hales, the competition's leading run scorer last season, continued his struggles in BBL|11 as he battled his way to 13 with a four off the gloves to fine leg and a top edge pull shot in the same zone for six.

It was then Kelly (3-30) again who put him out of his misery with a gem of a delivery that dropped through the air and clattered into the stumps.

That brought Billings and Sangha together who proceeded to put on 113-run partnership, the Thunder's highest ever third wicket stand to take the game away from the Scorchers.

The Englishman was the aggressor with 10 fours and two sixes on his way to 67 from just 35 balls, including a huge six off Mitch Marsh to bring up his second half century of the tournament that landed on the roof of the grandstand.

He then hit a beautiful six over cover in the next over off Australian T20 World Cup spinner Ashton Agar, who conceded 35 from his four overs without a wicket.

Billings was eventually out to Tye on the delivery before all the no-ball commotion.

Billings said it was probably the most complete performance the team had put together this season.

"We've probably let ourselves down in one (skill) to the other in the last few games, we've either batted well or bowled well and not backed it up with the opposite," he said on the Fox Cricket broadcast after the game.

"It was a really good team performance tonight, that's the cricket that we can play and against a very, very good team."

The Thunder lost three wickets in the power surge in overs 15 and 16, but they also took it for 34 runs to keep the momentum going.

Sangha finished unbeaten on 56, his first half century of the tournament, and was ably supported by Daniel Sams (10), Ben Cutting (10) and Chris Green (14no) at the back end of the innings.

If there's one team you wouldn't feel comfortable against with 200 on the board it would be the Scorchers with the likes of Kurtis Patterson, Marsh, Colin Munro, Turner and Laurie Evans in the line-up.

But at 3-17 by the end of the powerplay, with Josh Inglis, Marsh and Patterson back in the sheds, the Thunder could quickly breathe a sigh of relief.

It was soon 4-44 when Turner departed to Nathan McAndrew, who was the chief destroyer with 3-40.

Munro and English import Evans put some life back into the chase with a partnership of 43 but Saqib Mahmood returned for his third over just after the halfway point and he sent his countryman packing for 12.

New Zealand left-hander Munro (64no from 43) continued on but couldn't find and ally at the other end as the wickets kept tumbling and as the rate climbed beyond 16 an over it just became too much for one batter to shoulder.

Tye vented some frustration with a blistering 44 off 25 balls, his highest score in the BBL, but it came too late to save the Scorchers who fell 34 runs short with 8-166 from their 20 overs.

The Scorchers remain on top of the ladder despite the loss but the Sydney Sixers will have a chance to reclaim the number one spot with a win over the Brisbane Heat on Wednesday night.

The Thunder now sit fourth after leapfrogging the Melbourne Stars and next face the seventh placed Adelaide Strikers on New Year's Eve.

The Scorchers will be looking to rebound when they return to Melbourne to take on the Stars at Marvel Stadium, their home away from home, on Thursday.

— — —
 
Brisbane Heat have won the toss and have opted to bat

Sydney Sixers X-factor subs: Todd Murphy, Mickey Edwards

Brisbane Heat X-factor subs: Jack Wildermuth, Nathan McSweeney

Teams:

Brisbane Heat (Playing XI): Chris Lynn, Max Bryant, Tom Cooper, Ben Duckett, Sam Heazlett, Jimmy Peirson(w/c), James Bazley, Xavier Bartlett, Mark Steketee, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Sydney Sixers (Playing XI): Josh Philippe(w), James Vince, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques(c), Jordan Silk, Daniel Christian, Sean Abbott, Hayden Kerr, Shadab Khan, Ben Dwarshuis, Lloyd Pope
 
Teams:

Hobart Hurricanes (Playing XI): Ben McDermott, Matthew Wade(w/c), D Arcy Short, Harry Brook, Tim David, Peter Handscomb, Jordan Thompson, Nathan Ellis, Thomas Rogers, Riley Meredith, Sandeep Lamichhane

Hobart Hurricanes X-factor Subs : Caleb Jewell, Josh Kann

Melbourne Renegades (Playing XI): Aaron Finch, Mackenzie Harvey, Sam Harper(w), Nic Maddinson(c), Jake Fraser, Mohammad Nabi, Jack Prestwidge, James Pattinson, Kane Richardson, Reece Topley, Zahir Khan

Melbourne Renegades X-factor Subs : Will Sutherland, Jonathan Merlo

Melbourne Renegades have won the toss and have opted to field
 
Very odd and low scoring game

BRH 105 (19.1)
SYS 109/8 (20) CRR: 5.45
Sydney Sixers won by 2 wkts
 
Sydney Sixers star Sean Abbott produced perhaps the greatest all-round performance in KFC BBL history to steal his side a remarkable victory over Brisbane Heat in a low-scoring thriller at the SCG.

Chasing just 106 to win, the Sixers fell apart to be 8-47 in the 13th over, before Abbott (37no) combined with Ben Dwarshuis (23no) to resurrect the innings and produce a barely-believable get-out-of-jail triumph.

The Heat won the toss, batted and were promptly rolled for 105 in 19.1 overs, but when the Sixers slipped to 2-0 just seven balls into their run chase, the Brisbane bowling group sensed a stunning upset just might be on the cards.

From the field, Sixers batter Dan Hughes suggested on the player mic that the pitch was more worn than perhaps the Heat batters had realised, with commentator Brad Haddin echoing the sentiment, and suspecting it was in fact a wicket on which 140 would be a competitive score.

None of that really mitigated a catastrophic showing from the Heat batters, who for the second time in three nights found themselves two wickets down inside two overs after Jimmy Peirson's elevation to opener ended with the skipper caught at deep square for a four-ball duck.

This time two became three in the fourth over when Chris Lynn (2) found himself victim of the catch of BBL|11 to date.

With left-armer Dwarshuis angling across him, Lynn pounced on a fuller delivery and blazed a full-blooded cover drive into what initially appeared vacant space. But intercepting the ball via a full-length dive and an outstretched right arm was Abbott, whose flying grab brought to mind that of teammate Jordan Silk's eight summers ago.

Abbott at that point already had the wicket of Tom Cooper (7), and he added the Heat's three top scorers to his wickets column – Ben Duckett (21), Max Bryant (22) and X-factor Jack Wildermuth (27) – as the visitors' innings steadily unravelled.

Wildermuth's inclusion as an extra batting option cost Brisbane the spin option of Matt Kuhnemann, who was their best bowler in Monday's loss to the Melbourne Stars.

Not that it seemed he would have much to bowl at; no Heat partnership reached 25 as Dwarshuis (2-13) and Hayden Kerr (2-18) joined Abbott (4-31) with multiple wickets, the latter taking the Golden Cap as the tournament's leading wicket-taker thus far.

At that point, the result seemed all but a formality, but when Josh Philippe mistimed his second ball straight to mid-off from Mark Steketee, and Xavier Bartlett produced a delicious outswinger to dismiss James Vince first ball, the Heat sniffed the impossible.

The wickets kept tumbling. James Bazley removed Hughes (6) with the last ball of the fourth over, then Wildermuth had Jordan Silk (3) prodding to point with the first ball of the sixth.

At 4-26, veteran pair Moises Henriques (15) and Dan Christian (2) were charged with restoring order, but succeeded only in adding to the chaos; Christian miscued out to deep cover and Henriques edged behind off Mujeeb Ur Rahman, with Peirson taking an excellent low catch.

When Kerr (2) fell to a sharp catch from Bryant at backward point to give Bazley a second wicket, and Shadab Khan fell to Wildermuth for eight, the scoreboard read a scarcely believable 8-47 and the Sixers found themselves faring worse than England at the MCG.

Yet there was still a twist in the tale.

Having shown he can do most things on a cricket field, Abbott reminded onlookers of his talents with bat in hand, the hard-hitting right-hander capitalising on the power surge to somehow resuscitate his side.

Teaming up with his new-ball partner Dwarshuis, the duo put on 30 from 12 balls with the field up, with Abbott lacing a pair of sixes to shift the momentum of proceedings.

It left the equation at 24 from 24 with two wickets in hand, and amid clever singles, canny bowling, cramping quicks (Wildermuth), and no shortage of plays and misses, the Sixers were left needing just two to win from the final over, to be bowled by the outstanding Bartlett.

Still there was more drama.

From the first five balls, the Sixers pair managed just one risky single, as Bartlett landed a couple of perfect yorkers to ensure magenta nerves were jangling until the last.

But tonight's script was always written for Abbott, and from the final ball he took a couple of quick steps down the pitch and on drove wide of a short midwicket, wrapping up one of the more extraordinary matches with fire in his eyes and ice in his veins.

The win puts the Sixers back on top of the BBL|11 table after seven games, while the Heat remain in fifth place with two wins.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mat...-4-wickets-wildermuth-match-report/2021-12-29
 
HBH 206/5 (20)

MLR 121 (15.5)

Hobart Hurricanes won by 85 runs

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Ben McDermott
 
It was a record-breaking night in Melbourne, as Ben McDermott became the first player in KFC BBL history to score back-to-back hundreds, setting up an 85-run victory for the Hobart Hurricanes.

Guiding his side home with a flawless 110 not out against the Adelaide Strikers just two nights ago, McDermott topped that with a ruthless 127 against the Melbourne Renegades, taking a liking to Kane Richardson (0-63 off four overs) and Zahir Khan (0-37 off three).

Now with scores of 41, 8, 67, 110 not out and 127 in his five BBL|11 matches, McDermott can lay claim to the title of the competition's most in form batter and overtook Josh Philippe as the current BKT Golden Bat holder.

It could be argued that not since the 27-year-old's 114 in BBL|06, against the same opposition, has such clean ball striking been seen at Marvel Stadium, with McDermott clubbing nine boundaries and nine maximums in a perfect display of T20 batting.

Speaking on Fox Cricket during the innings break, just minutes after sacrificing another red ink century when he was run out by wicketkeeper Sam Harper trying to sneak a bye on the last ball of the innings, McDermott was in disbelief at what he'd just achieved, but stayed true to his team-orientated mindset.

"It's pretty special but I'll soak it in after hopefully, a win here," he said.

"I just try and keep backing my plans and keep playing to the aggressive style that I want to play, so lucky enough it came off tonight."

It has been a masterstroke decision by the 'Canes to move McDermott to the top of the order, consequently sending D'Arcy Short to number three, and the new opener said this position switch and some technical tweaks had been the catalyst for his strong form.

"I'm a bit more compact in the longer format, but I sort of loosen my hands up (in T20) and free them up to swing," McDermott said.

"Obviously the mindset changes, if it's in my zone I'm going to try and hit it for six or four.

"I know I'm strong enough to clear the rope if I need to."

After being sent into bat, Matthew Wade and the red-hot McDermott strode out confidently to a true Marvel Stadium wicket, however, Wade's innings was over just three balls into the match, mistiming a pull shot off Reece Topley to be gone for a duck.

Short's stay wasn't much longer, departing for only five, with his top-edge landing safely in the gloves of Harper, handing Topley his second wicket.

That brought Englishman Harry Brook to the crease, whose scores of one, two, zero and six so far in BBL|11 left him under pressure coming into the Hurricanes' innings.

But he could only manage a scratchy 11 off 16 balls, with 'Gades skipper Nic Maddinson's left-arm orthodox undoing him.

The Renegades were in control of the match at 3-52 after nearly nine overs, but that control was quickly snatched by the breathtaking McDermott.

Much like during his knock on Monday night, the 'Canes opener was circumspect early and was happy to manoeuvre the ball in gaps and run hard when not monstering balls over the fence, sitting on 39 off 31 balls at the halfway point.

However, from here on, McDermott's innings could only be described as brutal.

It seemed as if every ball would be sent into the Marvel Stadium stands, with his miss hits teasing Renegades fielders and resulting in six, and the one's he middled putting those in even the top tier in serious danger.

No part of the ground missed out on the action, with sixes to cow-corner, straight down the ground, and a slice over cover-point, which brought up his century, his third ever in the BBL, in the 16th over, making him the first ever batter to record three Big Bash hundreds.

By the 18th, when Peter Handscomb (24 off 20) departed with a handy innings, out there solely to return the strike to McDermott, the 'Canes had reached 169, and would've been happy with another 20 runs off the remaining two overs.

But the carnage didn't stop, and surprisingly, McDermott played very little part in it.

Tim David came to the crease and wasted absolutely no time, crunching his third ball for six over cover, and hitting three more and a four from the innings' remaining deliveries to finish a remarkable 30 off nine balls.

Set 207 for victory, the Melbourne side started strongly with 19 coming off the opening over from Riley Meredith.

But the soft dismissal of Aaron Finch, chipping Tom Rogers' first ball straight to cover (his second wicket off his opening delivery in as many games), put the Renegades on the back foot.

Maddinson came in at first drop and was given a life on just one, with Jordan Thompson spilling a simple chance running back with the flight, however, it mattered little, as Short hung on to the second chance the 'Gades skipper offered off Rogers' bowling.

As if this match, and indeed this night of BBL needed any more highlights, Meredith provided them with an absurd catch to remove the in-form Mackenzie Harvey for a golden duck, handing Rogers (3-24 off three) a third wicket in the process.

Harvey was rushed by a rising ball, edging it to second slip, where Handscomb was standing for the new batter.

The ball flew so quickly off the shoulder off the bat that it burst through slip fielder's hands and it appeared Harvey had been afforded a second chance.

But he had no such luck, as out of nowhere, Meredith came diving over from short third-man, scooping his hands under the ball just centimetres from the ground, completing an extraordinary catch that topped off the Hurricanes' night.

Harper, who opened with Finch, was watching his teammates drop like flies from the non-strikers end and yet among it all, was striking some lusty blows of his own.

He briefly found an ally in Jake Fraser-McGurk (21 of 13), as the two kept the match alive, taking the score to 68 after seven overs.

However, when Sandeep Lamichhane removed Fraser-McGurk and Mohammad Nabi the next over, both holing out to Short in the deep, all hope seemed lost at 5-73.

Consecutive run outs, firstly that of Harper (57 off 35), courtesy of a smart team relay finished by the wicketkeeper Wade, and then James Pattinson for a duck ended any ambitions of a Renegades come back, as they slumped to 7-102, and eventually all out for 121.

Batting collapses are becoming an all too familiar sight for the Renegades and after a fifth straight loss, they look destined for a hat-trick of bottom placed finishes.

Meanwhile, McDermott's stunning form has helped the title-less Hurricanes improve to 4-3 and having already played ladder leaders the Sydney Sixers and the second-placed Perth Scorchers twice, look set entrench themselves in the top three in their remaining matches.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mat...rvel-stadium-ben-mcdermott-century/2021-12-29
 
KFC Big Bash League statement

Tonight’s KFC Big Bash match between Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars at Marvel Stadium has been postponed.

A member of the Stars’ support staff received a positive COVID-19 test result this afternoon. All Stars players and staff who have been in contact with the positive case then undertook PCR tests as soon as possible and are awaiting results.

The League will advise a new date for the match as soon as possible.

Ticket holders for tonight’s match will be contacted directly regarding the refund process.

The League and all Clubs will continue to prioritise the safety of all players, match officials, staff, fans and the wider community throughout the KFC BBL|11 season

Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, said:

“While regrettable, the decision to postpone tonight’s match was the only option available given the exposures within the Stars cohort.

“The League has a number of biosecurity protocols in place to keep our participants safe and the competition moving forward. These protocols are regularly reviewed in response to the risks in each state. Safety remains our number one priority and we will work with the Stars to get their side back on the field as soon as possible.”
 
Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman is all set to feature in Australia’s ongoing Big Bash League. The Brisbane Heat have signed the swashbuckling batter and he is expected to leave for Australia on Thursday night, December 30. He will thus be the sixth player from Pakistan to feature in the high-profile tournament.

Previously, it was reported that his departure is subjected to the issuance of a visa. But now the batter is all set to enter the mega event of Australia and display his prowess. Prior to him, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Syed Fereydoon, and Ahmed Danial have also been a part of the Australian Big Bash League.
 
Saj said:
Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman is all set to feature in Australia’s ongoing Big Bash League. The Brisbane Heat have signed the swashbuckling batter and he is expected to leave for Australia on Thursday night, December 30. He will thus be the sixth player from Pakistan to feature in the high-profile tournament.

Previously, it was reported that his departure is subjected to the issuance of a visa. But now the batter is all set to enter the mega event of Australia and display his prowess. Prior to him, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Syed Fereydoon, and Ahmed Danial have also been a part of the Australian Big Bash League.
Click to expand...

Some more details:

The Brisbane Heat have secured the services of Pakistan top-order batter Fakhar Zaman for a three-match stint in January.

Fakhar will replace English batsman Tom Abell, whose stay in the KFC BBL has been cut short, with his knee injury proving more serious than initially indicated. After playing just two matches, Abell has returned home to the UK to recover from a damaged lateral ligament.

Fakhar's first game for the Heat is pencilled in against the Melbourne Renegades in Geelong on January 6.
 
The New Year’s Eve blockbuster BBL game between Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder is in doubt after four Thunder players tested positive.

Fox Cricket understands the Cricket Australia is seeking more information on whether the game can go ahead under South Australia’s close contact regulations.

Thunder players are currently awaiting PCR results, which are expected to come back in the early afternoon.

But even if they rest are negative, there is doubt over whether the game can continue due to the government’s strict rules around close contacts. Either way, the Thunder would field a significantly weakened team.

The Strikers are not impacted. Fox Cricket understands Cricket Australia asked the Perth Scorchers whether they would fly from Melbourne to Adelaide to play the Strikers, but the Scorchers said no.

Meanwhile, seven players and eight support staff at the Melbourne Stars have tested positive, placing the club’s game against Perth Scorchers on January 2 into serious doubt.

Cricket Australia and Big Bash clubs were locked in meetings late on Friday morning to determine the next course of action.

One proposal would see the Big Bash plow on with an influx of top-up players. However with this comes a variety of problems.

One is the integrity of the competition. How many club cricketers is too many for a franchise-based T20 tournament? And is it better to postpone games rather than play them with lesser players?

Another concern relates to Covid itself. If a team calls up a player from the local grade competition who hasn’t been living under Cricket Australia’s protocols, how likely is it this player would have Covid and pass it on to his new teammates?

This is why there is a bridging period under CA’s current guidelines, which were adhered to by the Melbourne Stars when Andre Russell arrived in Australia and was allowed to play two games against Sydney Thunder, but not share the same dressing room or high five his teammates.

In late 2020, Cricket Australia had a pool of four New Zealand players in the WBBL who were used while the competition took place at Sydney Olympic Park in a hub.

One of these players, bowler Rosemary Mair, played for three WBBL teams in the same tournament.

If CA asked a pool of half-a-dozen men to live under quarantine arrangements for all of January on the off chance a club would select them for a one-game contract, who would put their hand up? And who would pay them the nominal fee?

Ultimately CA is exploring all possibilities to continue the season and won’t be cancelling games unless there is no other option.

This is how the current outbreak is impacting each BBL club:

MELBOURNE STARS

There is a real danger the Stars will not be able to field a team on January 2 against the Perth Scorchers or January 3 against the Melbourne Renegades.

Seven players and eight support staff have tested positive, the club confirmed on Friday afternoon, and there could be more to come.

The Stars’ following match – in Adelaide on January 7 – is also in some danger.


BRISBANE HEAT

The Heat are currently in Tasmania ahead of the scheduled January 1 game against Hobart Hurricanes.

They have not had any player or coach test positive, but played against the Stars on December 27, when many of the people at the Stars would be have been most contagious.


SYDNEY SIXERS

The Sixers are currently in Coffs Harbour ahead of Saturday’s game against the Melbourne Renegades. All their players and staff do rapid tests daily and there have been no positive results.

It’s understood key personnel have specifically avoided crowded situations during BBL 11 to minimise the risk of contracting the virus.


SYDNEY THUNDER

Four players have tested positive, placing the new year’s eve clash against the Strikers in doubt.

Like the Sixers, the Thunder have gone above and beyond CA’s Covid-19 protocols this year with all staff and players undertaking daily rapid Antigen tests.

The club has confirmed that even with four positive cases, they will have enough players to field a team if the new year’s eve match goes ahead.

Fox Cricket understands the Thunder have added two players to its roster to cope with the shortage.

One is Arjun Nair, who last played for the Thunder in January.

The other is left-handed batsman Lachlan Hearne, who is yet to debut in the Big Bash but has played two Sheffield Shield games for NSW and has a highest score of 50.


PERTH SCORCHERS

The Scorchers are currently in Melbourne after Thursday’s match was postponed due to positive cases in the Stars setup.

They elected not to take up CA’s wish and travel to Adelaide for a game on December 31 because they completed a heavy training session on December 30 and their preparation would have been compromised.

Plus, they would have been given no more than eight hours notice ahead of the match.

The fact CA asked the Scorchers to travel and play is the greatest indication yet that the January 2 game – slated to be the first ever BBL match at St Kilda Cricket Ground – will not go ahead.

The Scorchers have lost keeper Josh Inglis and gun batter Mitch Marsh for the time being, with both called into the Australian Test squad as backup.


MELBOURNE RENEGADES

James Pattinson is out of the game in Coffs Harbour against Sydney Sixers as he awaits the result of his PCR Test.

The Renegades will also be without captain Nic Maddinson, who has been called into the Test squad as Covid cover.


HOBART HURRICANES

Much like the Heat, the Hurricanes have benefited from being on the outskirts of the Covid drama.

They don’t have any positive cases.


ADELAIDE STRIKERS

The Strikers are waiting on a verdict around their new year’s eve game against the Thunder.

Harry Conway was caught up in Pat Cummins’ Covid-19 scare earlier in December, but has since re-joined the squad.

There have been no other positive cases.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...s/news-story/ca3e195f41ab0ccb60d7434c395c8a6e
 
KFC Big Bash League statement

Tonight’s KFC Big Bash League match between Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder will proceed as scheduled.

Four members of the Sydney Thunder squad have returned positive PCR tests for COVID-19 today and are isolating. The remainder of the squad have returned negative PCR tests and are able to play.

The League, Strikers and Thunder, in consultation with SA Health, have worked together to ensure additional safeguards are in place to protect both teams, match officials, fans and the wider community tonight.

Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, said:

“Firstly, our thoughts go to everyone in the community affected by the spread of COVID-19 in recent weeks, including members of our Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder squads.

“We thank the Strikers, Thunder and SA Health for their hard work today to ensure this match can proceed.

“We will continue to work closely with our Clubs, relevant governments, broadcasters, partners and venues to ensure the season continues safely and successfully throughout January.”
 
MenInG said:
FH7uZJOX0AIbW_Q
Click to expand...

Precocious Jason Sangha's mastery with the bat and golden arm with the ball have propelled the COVID-ravaged Sydney Thunder to a memorable 22-run win over the Adelaide Strikers on New Year's Eve.

The 22-year-old Sangha crunched six sixes in his career-best unbeaten 91, underpinning the Thunder's 3-187 at Adelaide Oval, before snaring his maiden KFC BBL wicket with his under-utilised wrist spin as the Strikers fell short in reply with 7-165.

The defeat leaves the Strikers with just one win from their six games, and serious batting problems to solve. They again claimed the Bash Boost point for leading at the halfway mark of the second innings – the fifth time they have done that this season – but their late-innings hitting continues to be an issue.

Sangha was snared on the fence on 13 but was reprieved when television replays revealed Matt Short's heel was on the rope.

Touted as a future Test star, Sangha has been showing his short-form prowess this summer, and smacked 78 off his last 33 balls. He was particularly savage on Strikers captain Peter Siddle (1-47) and under-performing import George Garton (0-47).

He combined well with fellow young star Ollie Davies, whose audacious back-foot, off-side six caused Rashid Khan (0-23) to lose his customary cool.

The pair added 79 off the last five overs of the Thunder innings and 119 off the last nine.

Davies, playing his first match of the season, made waves in his debut season last summer, but a thumb injury had kept him sidelined for the early stages of BBL|11, and it was only a COVID outbreak in the Thunder ranks that saw him drafted into the squad at the last minute.

The pair blasted 79 off the last five overs and 119 off the last nine to put the Thunder in the box seat.

The Strikers lost opener Matt Short for 16 but were well in the game at the halfway stage of their chase before set pair Matt Renshaw (38) and Jake Weatherald (31) holed out in quick succession, the home side's decision to take an early power surge backfiring.

Sangha was introduced in the 13th over and continued his golden evening, sending Tom Kelly (1) packing with his third ball.

Veteran finisher Jonathan Wells impressed with a quickfire 46 off 26 deliveries but his salvo was far too late considering the damage inflicted with the ball by Thunder spearheads Daniel Sams (4-33) and Saqib Mahmood (2-35).

It had been a chaotic build-up for the visitors. Four members of the Thunder squad tested positive for COVID-19, with regulars Alex Ross, Alex Hales and Tanveer Sangha all forced to sit the match out.

The match was only approved by South Australia Health earlier on Friday afternoon to go ahead under strict biosecurity measures, which included Thunder players needing to remain separate from each other and the Strikers' team.

The undermanned visitors were reduced to just four specialist batters, but it didn't matter with Sangha in sublime touch, well supported by makeshift opener Ben Cutting (37) and talented youngster Oliver Davies (26no).

Ben Cutting was promoted to the top of the order for the decimated Thunder, reduced to just four available specialist batters, and he overcame a blow to the helmet from a Daniel Worrall bouncer to thump 37.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mat...bl11-highlights-jason-sangha-covid/2021-12-31
 
So how have Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Syed Fereydoon, and Ahmed Danial been performing? Has anyone been following this?
 
zacattakk said:
So how have Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Syed Fereydoon, and Ahmed Danial been performing? Has anyone been following this?
Click to expand...

See above and also see Shadab in BBL thread
 
Sydney Sixers have won the toss and have opted to field

Sydney Sixers X-Factors subs: Todd Murphy, Jackson Bird

Melbourne Renegades X-Factors sub: Jono Merlo, Zak Evans

Teams:

Sydney Sixers (Playing XI): Josh Philippe(w), James Vince, Moises Henriques(c), Daniel Hughes, Jordan Silk, Daniel Christian, Sean Abbott, Hayden Kerr, Shadab Khan, Ben Dwarshuis, Steve OKeefe

Melbourne Renegades (Playing XI): Mackenzie Harvey, Sam Harper(w), Aaron Finch, James Seymour, Jake Fraser, Mohammad Nabi, Jack Prestwidge, Will Sutherland, Kane Richardson(c), Reece Topley, Zahir Khan
 
MenInG said:
Sydney Sixers have won the toss and have opted to field

Sydney Sixers X-Factors subs: Todd Murphy, Jackson Bird

Melbourne Renegades X-Factors sub: Jono Merlo, Zak Evans

Teams:

Sydney Sixers (Playing XI): Josh Philippe(w), James Vince, Moises Henriques(c), Daniel Hughes, Jordan Silk, Daniel Christian, Sean Abbott, Hayden Kerr, Shadab Khan, Ben Dwarshuis, Steve OKeefe

Melbourne Renegades (Playing XI): Mackenzie Harvey, Sam Harper(w), Aaron Finch, James Seymour, Jake Fraser, Mohammad Nabi, Jack Prestwidge, Will Sutherland, Kane Richardson(c), Reece Topley, Zahir Khan
Click to expand...

Rain delay at the moment.
 
Melbourne: With COVID-19 rocking the ongoing Big Bash League, Cricket Australia (CA) may consider hosting the remainder of the tournament in Melbourne. A media report claimed that discussions are in the preliminary stage as Melbourne has multiple cricket grounds to complete the remainder of the league.

“Moving all eight Big Bash League clubs to Melbourne is one scenario Cricket Australia is considering in a bid to complete the season. Even though COVID-19 numbers are rising daily in Victoria, the prospect of using the MCG, Marvel Stadium, St Kilda Cricket Ground, and GMHBA Stadium to turbocharge the last portion of BBL11 is the attraction,” said the report from Fox Cricket.

One of the main reasons which point in Melbourne’s favour is that both Adelaide and Brisbane do not have so many grounds. Sydney, the host city for the fourth Ashes Test is seen as a greater risk due to the huge rise in cases and Hobart’s Blundstone Arena is going to host the fifth Ashes Test, a day-night affair.

“The risk of more players being infected in Melbourne could be offset by greater fixture flexibility. With all teams in the same jurisdiction, the schedule could be changed on the run to complete the remaining 33 matches, including finals. One stumbling block would contract with the Gabba, Adelaide Oval, SCG, and Sydney Showgrounds — with tickets already sold for January games — though Cricket Australia could argue the Victorian solution is the only way forward,” the report further said.

As of now, eleven players from Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder teams have tested positive for COVID-19 with a player from another BBL club awaiting the RTPCR Test result after being sent in isolation due to a positive rapid flow test. The report also said if matches are shifted completely to Melbourne, then Cricket Australia will put in strict curbs to minimise movement and contact with the general public.

Just before the start of BBL matches on Saturday, former Australia cricketer Michael Hussey said on Fox Cricket it would be ‘common sense’ to shift matches to Melbourne.

“I think common sense would suggest bringing the whole competition to one city and I think it’s Melbourne. There are four really good grounds here in Melbourne… That way it gives you flexibility with the schedule. That way, if there is a team that has a few cases and that has to sit out, then you can chop and change the schedule.”

Brisbane Heat captain Jimmy Pierson felt a move to Melbourne will be nice to complete the season. “I think it’s inevitable that something like that might happen. Some form of hub or bubble similar to last year where we can maintain a relative amount of safety and make sure cricket gets played. It is just one of those things as players we need to be ready for. I think it’s important that everyone gets out there and plays for the community and us as cricketers. Fingers crossed we can move forward normally but we will see what happens.”

https://www.india.com/sports/remain...e-held-entirely-in-melbourne-reports-5165810/
 
Xavier Bartlett has bounced back from final-over heartache to help the Brisbane Heat to a confidence-boosting 14-run KFC BBL win over the Hobart Hurricanes.

Bartlett took a career-best 4-30 from four overs after the Heat earlier posted 8-150 on the back of some late lusty hitting from allrounder James Bazley.

Bazley top-scored in tricky Blundstone Arena conditions with an unbeaten 44 from 27 deliveries at No.8.

Bartlett struck two big blows early in the Hobart chase, getting rid of inform opener Ben McDermott (0) and skipper Matthew Wade (one) in the second over.

He returned for the Power Surge in the 14th over to remove Tim David (seven) and D'Arcy Short, who departed off a top edge for a sluggish 27 from 38 balls.

Bartlett had bowled the final over in Brisbane's two-wicket loss to the Sydney Sixers on Wednesday, conceding a single off the last delivery in a game they should have won.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman was outstanding in the middle overs, picking up Harry Brook and Peter Handscomb to finish with 3-20 at an economy rate of five runs per over.

Tailender Tom Rogers (33 not out from 20 deliveries) gave Hobart a glimmer of hope in the final few overs but his side finished 8-136.

It was an impressive win by the Heat who were in a spot of bother at 2-16 at the end of the Powerplay after being sent in.

Bazley shared a crucial 42-run stand with Jack Wildermuth, who hit 28 from 21 deliveries after being brought in as an X-factor player, and also bowled four overs that went for just 20 runs.

Rogers earlier starred with the ball for the Hurricanes with 2-15 from four overs, while quick Nathan Ellis took 3-41 including the big wicket of Chris Lynn (13 from 15 balls).

Brisbane are now 3-5 after eight matches while Hobart are 4-4.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mat...eeb-bartlett-bazley-mcdermott-wade/2022-01-01
 
MenInG said:
Rain delay at the moment.
Click to expand...

Match abandoned due to persistent rain.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Unfortunately the weather at Coffs Harbour is not letting up, and tonight's match between <a href="https://twitter.com/SixersBBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SixersBBL</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/RenegadesBBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RenegadesBBL</a> has been abandoned &#55357;&#56852;<br><br>We'll be back at C.ex International Stadium on Jan 9 when the Sixers host the Scorchers! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BBL11?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BBL11</a> <a href="https://t.co/fBWe1e4fCg">pic.twitter.com/fBWe1e4fCg</a></p>— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBL/status/1477216808100720640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
The Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers will play on Sunday after all.

This is despite three more Stars players testing positive, bringing the total number to 10, plus eight staff.

There are now 10 positive players in the Stars camp but, despite there being no coaches in attendance on Sunday’s game, Cricket Australia has allowed the side to have top-up players from local cricket.

It’s understood the Stars will be permitted to have at least four top-up players join the squad under strict protocols.
 
KFC Big Bash League statement

Today’s two KFC Big Bash League matches, between the Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers at CitiPower Centre and Sydney Thunder, and Adelaide Strikers at Sydney Showground Stadium, will proceed as scheduled

Additional measures will be in place at both matches protect to players, match officials, staff, fans and the wider community.

Updates regarding each match are below.


Melbourne Stars v Perth Scorchers

The League has approved the late addition of six Local Replacement Players to the Melbourne Stars squad for today’s game.

Ten players and eight staff from the Stars remain in isolation after returning positive PCR tests for COVID-19.

Two Scorchers players are in isolation and unavailable to play. One returned a positive PCR test for COVID-19.


Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers

Four Thunder players remain in isolation after returning positive PCR tests for COVID-19.

No positive COVID-19 cases have been detected in the Strikers squad.
 
PRS 180/8 (20)
MLS 0/0 (0.3) REQ: 9.28
Melbourne Stars need 181 runs
 
PRS 180/8 (20)

MLS 130 (18.5)

Perth Scorchers won by 50 runs


FIFLgVNVEAERx-P
 
Last edited:
Sydney Thunder have won the toss and have opted to bat

Adelaide Strikers X-factor subs: Dan Worrall, George Garton

Sydney Thunder X-factor subs: Baxter Holt, Brendan Doggett

Teams:
Adelaide Strikers (Playing XI): Matthew Short, Jake Weatherald, Matt Renshaw, Jonathan Wells, Thomas Kelly, Henry Hunt, Harry Nielsen(w), Rashid Khan, Wes Agar, Peter Siddle(c), Fawad Ahmed

Sydney Thunder (Playing XI): Matthew Gilkes, Ben Cutting, Jason Sangha, Sam Billings(w), Oliver Davies, Daniel Sams, Arjun Nair, Chris Green(c), Gurinder Sandhu, Mohammad Hasnain, Saqib Mahmood
 
Media reports say that ECB has asked all English BBL players also involved in the upcoming West Indies tour to head back home and isolate before the 7th of January.

The five England BBL players touring West Indies for T20 at the end of January will have to leave Australia on January 7 due to Covid. Have to be "safe living" before entering bubble.

Sam Billings, Saqib Mahmood, Tymal Mills, James Vince, Reece Topley the affected players.
 
Last edited:
Cricket.com.AU:

<b>Scorchers too strong for COVID-hit Stars.</b>

<I>With a host of ring-ins to fill the ranks after their squad was hit by a COVID outbreak, it was always going to be a tough ask for the Melbourne Stars but they put up an admirable effort against the table-topping Perth Scorchers.</I>

The Perth Scorchers have crushed the COVID-hit Melbourne Stars by 50 runs despite an early scare from their unlikely top-up players.

Forced into making seven changes for Sunday's KFC BBL game at Melbourne's Junction Oval, the under-strength Stars performed better than many had expected.

Stars debutant Tom Rogers, who received a shock call-up from Victorian Premier Cricket side Ringwood, hit a dashing 32 opening the batting with Englishman Joe Clarke (52).

But after the pair put on 78 for the first wicket, it quickly unravelled for the Stars as the Scorchers put their foot down in defence of their total of 8-180.

Once captain Glenn Maxwell and former Australia allrounder Hilton Cartwright departed without making much of an impact, the Stars lost 7-19 in just four overs to be all out for 130.

Former Australia limited-overs quick Andrew Tye (2-11) and leg-spinner Peter Hatzoglou (2-27) were the pick of the Scorchers' bowlers, while Tymal Mills (3-28) cleaned up the tail to improve his figures after taking some early stick.

The title fancies, who were without Mitch Marsh and Josh Inglis after the pair were called into the Australian Test squad, were powered to their match-winning score by Kurtis Patterson (54) and New Zealander Colin Munro (40 off just 20 balls).

The result takes the Scorchers back to the top of the table, leapfrogging the Sydney Sixers.

Six club cricketers were rushed into the squad after 10 Stars tested positive for COVID-19.

Eight staff members also remain in isolation after returning positive PCR tests.

Maxwell has managed to avoid catching the virus and led his team out against the Scorchers.

In a pre-game interview with Fox Cricket, Maxwell admitted he only met some of his new teammates in the nets just hours before the match.

But other key Stars players including Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Beau Webster missed the game.

Rogers, Tom O'Connell, Justin Avendano, Xavier Crone, Lachlan Bangs and Pat Rowe were all named in the Stars' squad of 13, with the first four all featuring.

With coach David Hussey missing, the Stars are being guided by Victoria's Sheffield Shield coach Chris Rogers, Jarrad Loughman, who heads the club's Weber WBBL side, and Adam Crosthwaite.

It will be a similar situation set-up for the Melbourne derby against the Renegades at the MCG on Monday night.

The Scorchers have also been affected by COVID-19, with bowler Matt Kelly and fringe player Nick Hobson having to isolate.

— — —
 
Mohammad Hasnain outstanding in his debut BBL game, as he takes 3/20 in 4 over and helps in his side Sydney Thunder's 28-run win against Adelaide Strikers.

SYT 172/7 (20)

ADS 144 (19.1)

Sydney Thunder won by 28 runs
 
Last edited:
A host of KFC BBL clubs are scrambling to find replacement players after the England and Wales Cricket Board summoned home members of their T20I squad early ahead of a tour to the West Indies later this month.

Six players including Sydney Thunder's Sam Billings and Saqib Mahmood were named in England's T20I squad late last month, but they had been expected to only miss their club's final two regular season matches (and any finals), with the England team required to assemble in the UK on January 15 for a flight to Barbados for the five-game series.

But the English imports have now been asked to return to the UK and enter pre-tour isolation by January 7.

England's 16-player T20I squad includes Billings and Mahmood (Sydney Thunder), George Garton (Adelaide Strikers), Chris Jordan (who has already returned home) and James Vince (Sydney Sixers), Tymal Mills (Perth Scorchers) and Reece Topley (Melbourne Renegades).

Sunday's game will be Billings and Mahmood's final appearance for the Sydney club – Garton was named an X-factor sub for the Strikers for the same game – while Mills likely signed off during Perth's victory over Melbourne Stars earlier the same day.

Topley has been named in the Renegade's squad for Monday's Melbourne derby, and it is yet to be seen whether Vince will sneak in one final match for the Sixers on Tuesday before departing.

English signings Tom Abell and Ben Duckett (Brisbane Heat), Harry Brook and Jordan Thompson (Hobart Hurricanes), Joe Clarke (Melbourne Stars), Laurie Evans (Perth Scorchers) and Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder) weren't selected in the squad and will be able to remain with their BBL clubs for the remainder of the season.

With the fifth Vodafone Ashes Test set to finish in Hobart just four days before the first T20, no England player currently attempting to regain the urn in Australia was considered for selection in the 20-over squad.

Billings is a particularly big loss for the Thunder, having hit blistering knocks of 64 and 69 against the Heat and the Scorchers late last month, while 24-year-old speedster Mahmood nabbed 4-22 in a stunning debut against the Heat.

Vince has also established himself as the formidable opening partner of Josh Philippe during the Sixers' back-to-back BBL titles.

The Scorchers’ bowling depth should hold them in good stead to cover Mills, while the Renegades will need to find another bowler to use in the surge once Topley departs – however, that shouldn't be too much of an issue with the likes of Kane Richardson, James Pattinson and Mohammad Nabi on their list.

England will play the West Indies in five T20Is – all to be played at Kensington Oval in Barbados – from January 22-30.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/eng...-mahmood-mills-vince-garton-topley/2022-01-02
 
Rauf playing ....

Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades, 33rd Match

Melbourne Renegades X-factor Subs - Zak Evans, James Seymour

Teams:

Melbourne Stars (Playing XI): Travis Dean, Patrick Rowe(w), Glenn Maxwell(c), Charlie Wakim, Hilton Cartwright, Tom O Connell, Justin Avendano, Haris Rauf, Ahmed Daniyal, Qais Ahmad, Brody Couch

Melbourne Renegades (Playing XI): Mackenzie Harvey, Sam Harper(w), Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Nic Maddinson(c), Mohammad Nabi, Jack Prestwidge, Will Sutherland, Kane Richardson, Reece Topley, Zahir Khan

Melbourne Stars have won the toss and have opted to bat
 
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