Adelaide Strikers captain Matthew Short did something spectacular during the Big Bash League knockout match against the Perth Scorchers. On the fifth ball of the 13th over of the second innings, Short bowled a length ball pitched in line with the stumps, to which Scorchers batsman Nick Hobson turned his back and tried to play it towards the off side. Leg. However, he ended up bowling it straight towards the bowler. Matthew Short jumped onto the ball and made an impressive diving catch to his left.
It was a failed batting spectacle by the Perth Scorchers against Adelaide Strikers as they chased 156 runs in Perth. The Scorchers finished with 105 runs and gave Strikers a 50-run victory. The Scorchers are now eliminated from the tournament, while the Strikers will face the Brisbane Heat on January 22 in Queensland.
Watch: Matthew Short surprises everyone by grabbing a stunner with one hand
Matt Short, you can’t be doing that! 🤯
The captain with an absolute SCREAM! #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/p6luxxl0PQ
– 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 20, 2024
Batting first, the Adelaide Strikers did not start well and openers D’Arcy Short and Matthew Short had to back off after scoring 6 and 13 runs respectively. After losing 2 wickets to Jake Weatherald, he tried to balance the Strikers innings and stood firm at one end. However, Adelaide continued to lose wickets at the other end, as Thomas Kelly, Harry Nielsen and James Bazley were dismissed cheaply.
Jake Weatherald completed a well-deserved half-century and scored 56 runs off 32 balls. Ben Manenti, David Payne and Henry Thornton made some useful cameos and helped the Adelaide Strikers to a score of 155/7 in 20 overs. Perth Scorchers captain Aaron Hardie and Cooper Conolly picked up 2 wickets each, while Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye finished the innings with 1 wicket each.
Chasing the target, Perth Scorchers openers Sam Fanning and Marcus Harris added 38 runs for the first wicket. While Fanning was dismissed for 31 runs off 20 balls, Harris returned to the dressing room for 8 runs. Captain Aaron Hardie and Sam Whiteman couldn’t do much either and departed for 6 and 2 runs respectively.
After facing a batting collapse, Josh Inglis and Cooper Conolly attempted to get the Perth Scorchers’ innings back on track but were soon dismissed too for 12 and 31 runs respectively. The lower order also failed to add much to the team’s total and the rest of the wickets fell like a pack of cards.
Lloyd Pope was the pick of the bowlers for the Adelaide Strikers and finished the innings with a four-wicket haul. Cameron Boyce picked up 3 wickets, while captain Matthew Short, David Payne and Henry Thornton picked up 1 wicket each.
The Adelaide Strikers will now try to beat the Brisbane Heat in the second BBL qualifier and book a place in the final of the tournament taking place on January 24.
Adelaide Strikers have won the Big Bash League title once, in 2018. On the other hand, Perth Scorchers were the five-time winners of the championship and were looking for their third consecutive trophy. However, their dream remains a dream and now they will have to return next season and aim to win the competition.
