Twitter Reactions: Weatherald's onslaught takes Adelaide Strikers to an imposing total in the BBL finals

The stage was all set for the big finals of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2017-18 season. The venue at Adelaide had a packed atmosphere and the fans rooted for the home side, Adelaide Strikers, in big numbers. At the very same time, the fan support for the Hobart Hurricanes was no less either. It all boiled down a very fitting display of batting in the first innings of the big finale.

The crowds had already witnessed a thumping Sydney Sixers win in the WBBL final earlier in the day. And now, some more batting might came to the fore with the Strikers drawing first blood in the final encounter. Coming to the match, the Strikers certainly entered as the favorites against the Hurricanes. They had the privilege of playing at their home venue. Hence, the home advantage, if any, went with the Men in Blue.

The toss certainly went their way with Travis Head winning the toss and opting to bat first on a track that looked like a batting belter. The major dent in the Adelaide Strikers lineup was the absence of Rashid Khan, who had to bow out of the tournament owing to national commitments. For the Hurricane, it was a full strength squad with D’Arcy Short back in the lineup.

Coming to the match, the Adelaide Strikers got off to a flying start with Alex Carey and Jake Weatherald adding a quick 41 off just 30 deliveries for the first wicket. Jofra Archer provided the first breakthrough for the Hurricanes as he cleaned up Carey on 18 in the fifth over. What followed next was an absolute massacre. Jake Weatherald played the innings of his life.

The 23-year old southpaw went out alll guns blazing to singlehandedly parade the Strikers’ innings. He reached his fifty in the 8th over of the match with a six over deep square leg. It is worth noting that this was his third consecutive fifty in the tournament. He did not take much time to reach his next milestone. In the 16th over the match, he ran a couple of runs off the bowling of Thomas Rogers to register his maiden BBL ton.

Also, this became the first century ever in the finals of the BBL history. Weatherald was eventually dismissed in the penultimate over by Dan Christian. He smashed a brilliant 115 off just 70 deliveriies with 9 fours and 8 sixes. Owing to Weatherald’s onslaught and combined cameos of Travis Head (44 off 29 deliveries) and Colin Ingram (14 off 6 deliveries), the Adelaide Strikers posted a mammoth 202/2 in their stipulated 20 overs.

Here is how the fans reacted to the Weatherald’s onslaught:

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