BBL 2024/25, AS vs BH 31. Match report, January 11, 2025

Adelaide Strikers 251 for 5 (M Short 109, Lynn 47, Ross 44*, Kuhnemann 3-50) won Brisbane heat 195 (McSweeney 43, D Short 4-15, Haskett 2-43, Pope 2-44) by 56 runs

Sent to bat on a very flat surface at Adelaide Oval, Strikers were 251 for 5, highlighted by Short’s 109 off 54 balls after missing the last three matches. He reached his ton in 49 balls to set a new franchise record.

Heat never seriously threatened in the chase and were bowled out for 195 after 20 overs.

The result has given life to the Strikers’ season (three wins in eight games), having entered the game in last position and closing in on the fourth-placed Heat.

Short/Lynn brouhaha before Carey’s brief hit in season debut

During Short’s absence, Lynn moved up to start from three and his success was such that he remained in the position. He dominated the power play and defeated the quicks Michael Neser and Xavier Bartlett, normally so reliable with the new ball.

Lynn raced to 42 off 13 balls as Strikers reached 62 for 0 for the most runs made by a team in the powerplay this season. Short then took control with two sixes from left-arm quick Spencer Johnson as the Strikers moved to 81-0 after five overs.

Hogging the strike, Short soon overtook Lynn to reach his half-century off 24 balls. In the first seven overs, Short and Lynn smashed seven sixes and failed to score off just 11 balls.

But Lynn lost pace and also suffered a hamstring strain before being bowled by a quicker delivery from left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann.

Carey finally reached the crease, but only lasted eight deliveries after being bowled by another faster ball from Kuhnemann. However, he hit arguably the best shot of the innings after a classy check drive sailed beautifully over extra cover and into the crowd.

Short was unfazed as he appropriately caught his partnership with a cap. Travis Head had maintained Strikers’ previous fastest century with his famous 53-ball ton against Sydney Sixers on New Year’s Eve 2015.

It was a brilliant knock from Short, who recently opened for Australia in white-ball cricket, marked by standing still in the crease and hitting the ball cleanly. He ruthlessly aimed for the shorter boundaries on the leg side before finally holing out at mid-wicket.

Alex Ross scored 44 not out off 19 balls at the death to ensure Strikers’ momentum continued.

Spinners Kuhnemann and Swepson do their best

With their star quicks Neser, Bartlett and Johnson putting in rare performances, unable to hit their lengths, spinners Kuhnemann and Swepson took five wickets between them in fighting efforts.

They were not spared, with 91 runs made in their eight overs, but at least they ensured the Strikers fell short of the BBL record of 273 for 2 set by Melbourne Stars three years ago.

Kuhnemann, in his first match since being selected for the Sri Lanka Test tour, got some speed on the surface, while Swepson cleverly mixed up his bowling to be the most economical of the five bowlers used.

Fast debutants face tough start, D’Arcy Short takes four wickets

On a surface that rivaled some of the unforgivable pitches seen in the IPL, Strikers’ quick debutants Liam Haskett and Jordan Buckingham faced a difficult initiation.

Haskett impressed last season for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield but made a delayed start this summer due to a back injury. The tall, fast left-arm spinner was unleashed in the second over but initially struggled with his length and Neser hit him on the leg side for successive sixes.

Nathan McSweeney later pulled Haskett for six and was caught, surprisingly, by his father on the terraces. He returned later to dismiss Tom Alsop and finish with 2 for 43 in 3 overs.

Buckingham, 24, was given a chance in the BBL after impressing in the Shield in recent seasons. Like almost every other player in the match, he took some punishment but claimed the key wicket of Matthew Renshaw in the 14th over.

Munro bats well in the order after fielding injuries

The Heat’s monumental task was made more difficult with captain Colin Munro batting low down the order after dislocating a finger on his left hand and suffering a shoulder injury in a torrid moment on the field. He came out at number 7 and made a second duck.

Neser was promoted to wide open and told to go for it, but it didn’t work. McSweeney bowled fluently with several superb drives and made an attractive 43 off 24 balls.

But he was left without attempting a second run as the Heat’s slim chances effectively ended despite entertaining cameos from Renshaw, the in-form Max Bryant and Johnson, who made 27 off 13 balls at number 11.