Adelaide Strikers have made a move up the standings with a thumping win against Brisbane Heat before another win in Tasmania.

Melbourne Renegades beat Sydney Thunder by 12 runs (DLS)

In a rain-affected game, the Melbourne Renegades finally won a match in BBL09. Sydney Thunder fell short of their 14-over target after rain reduced their batting innings at Manuka Oval.  Sam Harper starred for the Renegades with a brisk 52, ably assisted by Shaun Marsh, as the Renegades posted a total of 4/172. Chris Morris took punishment from the Renegades as he conceded 40 runs in three overs.

When the rain did fall in Canberra, Thunder had already lost key wickets. Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson and Daniel Sams had fallen as Thunder struggled to 3/31. When play finally resumed, a revised total of 135 from 14 overs was required by the men in green.  Thunder continued to lose wickets while Alex Ross shored up the other end.  When he fell for 51 from 27 balls, the score was 7/109 with an over left of the game. 26 off the last over was too much, and the BBL08 champions were finally off the mark.

Melbourne Stars beat Perth Scorchers by 8 wickets

A dominant performance from the Stars saw them run out easy winners. For the Scorchers, it was a demoralising defeat as they were bowled out for 86 at home. Josh Inglis’ scored 37, but the Perth side lost nine wickets for 47. Jackson Coleman took an impressive 3-16 while Sandeep Lamichhane conceded just seven runs from three overs. Pressure from good bowling saw the Scorchers’ innings fall apart in less than 14 overs.

The run chase was a formality for the Stars who did so in 12 overs. Marcus Stoinis was impressive again with 39 not out while Hilton Cartwright and Ben Dunk were to the two wickets to fall. The Scorchers could not exert the same pressure as the Stars, with the first wicket falling on 47, and lost heavily at Optus Stadium.

Sydney Sixers and Hobart Hurricanes – no result (rain)

Only 6.4 overs could be bowled as rain washed out the Sixers and the Hurricanes at the SCG. The abandonment is not what the Hurricanes needed with their current position in the standings. For the Sixers, they will be less concerned. Having been asked to bat, the Sixers lost Josh Philippe and James Vince within the space of three balls before recovering to 2/45 before rain ended the contest.

Adelaide Strikers beat Brisbane Heat by 10 wickets

Adelaide had beaten heavily by Brisbane three days earlier, but revenge was quickly served at Adelaide Oval. Chris Lynn won the bat toss and decided to bat first, but the Heat soon found it tough going. The wicket of AB de Villiers, smashing his third ball to Jake Weatherald in the deep, was disappointing. When Lynn fell of a good over the shoulder catch by Rashid Khan, it signalled a familiar collapse for the men from Brisbane.

Losing eight wickets for 47 runs, the Heat managed to get to 100, but the total was woefully short of a par score. The question was how quickly the Strikers would run the total down. They did so quickly, efficiently and demoralizingly to run out winners by ten wickets. It was the third time in BBL history a team had won by ten wickets and did so with 55 balls remaining. Phil Salt starred for the Strikers with 67 not out from 38 balls with five sixes and five fours. Mujeeb conceded at over 12 an over as the Strikers batters put the Heat to the sword.

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Melbourne Stars beat Perth Scorchers by 10 runs

Not as comprehensive a win as the Stars have become accustomed to but just as pleasing. The Scorchers fell agonisingly short, with Nic Maddinson being the unlikely bowling hero with three wickets, as a chance to beat the leaders slipped away.

Batting first, the Stars set a total of 6/141 with Hilton Cartwright batting through the innings for 58. Glenn Maxwell (25) and Nick Larkin (24) added useful scores as the Scorchers bowlers proved difficult to score off. Matthew Kelly took 3-27 while Jhye Richardson added another impressive bowling performance to his season.

The Scorchers response was crying out for an innings similar to Cartwright’s, but the Stars would not let them settle. Maxwell showed confidence in his bowlers with brave selections. Maddinson proved to be an inspired choice with 3-24 including removing Cameron Bancroft at a key moment.

Sydney Thunder beat Sydney Sixers by 4 runs (DLS)

Multiple rain delays and plenty of wickets fell as the Thunder eked out a slim but vital four-run win on DLS. Sixers were bowled out for 76 in difficult batting conditions. Several rain interruptions punctuated the innings. Sixers soon found themselves at 3/6 before the second rain delay with Hughes, Philippe and Henriques all gone. When play resumed, the Sixers soon found themselves at 5/15 and 6/26 before Ben Dwarshuis, and Justin Avendano added vital runs. Sixers were all out in the 16th and final over to leave Thunder with a battle to beat the rain to win the match.

Jackson Bird bowled three tight overs, including the wicket of Alex Hales, with the Sixers desperate to keep Thunder below the DLS target. Ben Dwarshuis’ over cost 13 runs which proved to be the match-winner for Thunder. Five overs constitute a match, and heavy rains took the players off with three balls bowled in the sixth over. The rain set in and with Thunder ahead of the DLS target, they were awarded the win.

Adelaide Strikers beat Hobart Hurricanes by 10 runs

Travis Head’s 79 from 40 balls proved to be decisive as the Strikers won in Tasmania to move into second place in the standings. Home side Hobart Hurricanes were boosted by David Miller’s 90 not out but could not get his team over the line at UTAS Stadium. Batting first, Strikers lost Phil Salt and Jake Weatherald cheaply before Head’s critical knock. Jonathan Wells anchored the innings while Matthew Short’s bright and breezy 33 saw the Strikers post 5/186.

Hobart’s response was all about Miller as Matthew Wade, and Caleb Jewell went early to leave the Hurricanes on 2/21. Ben McDermott gave Miller support before the ever-reliable Peter Siddle picked up the Hobart captain. After that, it was down to Miller, and despite his best efforts, it proved to be too much for the South African. With the Sixers defeat the Thunder, it gave the Strikers opportunity to leapfrog them in the standings, and they did so.

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