Twitter Reactions: Adelaide Strikers' tailenders teach their top-order a lesson

Though the Strikers ended 11 short, the dramatic turnaround in the lower order surely saved them from an embarrassing defeat.

By Pratyay Tiwari

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2 Min Read

James Faulkner
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James Faulkner. (Photo by Darrian Traynor – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

The fifth match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2020-21 pitted up the Hobart Hurricanes against the Adelaide Strikers. The Strikers, after winning the toss, elected to field first, however, their call did not materialize well after the Hurricanes’ openers came out all guns blazing. Making judicious use of the Powerplay, D’Arcy Short and Will Jacks did not allow the bowlers to settle themselves. While Short played the aggressor, Jack held one end up and ensured to rotate well between the wickets.

After contributing 34 in their 63-run stand for the first wicket, Jacks holed out to midwicket as he attempted to slog Wes Agar. Unfazed at the other end, Short continued his rampage, now alongside Colin Ingram. The duo added 68 for the second-wicket, however, Agar managed to get his team the much-needed wicket of Short (72 from 48) in the 15th over, after the batsman miscued one to short third man. Peter Siddle struck soon as Ingram (25 from 19) deposited his shorter delivery into Rashid Khan, who took a sensational catch at deep midwicket.

Peter Handscomb did not have a fruitful outing as Rashid trapped him LBW when he was on 4, although Tim David’s unbeaten 21 from 13, alongside James Faulkner’s 12 guided the Hurricanes to a defendable total of 174 for 5.

Strikers’ batsmen fail to strike

Coming to the chase, the Strikers made the worst possible start as they lost both of their openers cheaply. First Jake Weatherald (1) fell prey to Johan Botha, whereas Phil Salt (8) followed suit as he was cleaned up by James Faulkner. Their score from 16 for 2 quickly skittled to 49 for 6, as their entire middle-order, barring Matt Renshaw, could not even take their score into double digits.

While Harry Nielsen was trapped LBW by Botha, Jonathan Wells was out in the same fashion against Riley Meredith. Renshaw (33 from 27) continued to hold one end as he saw all others falling around him like a deck of cards. Reduced to 102 for 9 in 14.2 overs, the Strikers were facing a mammoth, net run rate-denting defeat. However, Daniel Worrall and Danny Briggs joined hands to drag their team out of the trap.

So close yet so far

In their unbeaten 61-run stand for the 10th wicket, the duo toyed with the opponents’ bowlers with such ease that would make any batsman proud. While none of the batsmen managed to get themselves into the groove, Worrall and Briggs carried their team from a deplorable state to a sight – 26 from last 12 – where even a victory became probable. However, giving only 8 in the penultimate over, Nathan Ellis left the duo with a tedious ask of 18 in the last.

Eventually, the Strikers ended 11 short, but the dramatic turnaround in the lower order surely saved them from an embarrassing defeat.

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