Match 27, Geelong, January 11, 2022, 08:40 AM
Perth Scorchers
196/3(20.0ov)
Melbourne Stars
149/9(20.0ov)
Perth Scorchers beat Melbourne Stars by 47 runs
Right! Scorchers continue their upward journey in this competition and have not only sealed their finals' spot, they have even sealed their position in the top 2 (assuming our math is correct). The Stars are lurking down in 7th spot, but given that 5 teams can qualify for the finals, they still have an outside chance, with Heat and Renegades not too far ahead of them. This game's coverage ends here but there is another game coming up, this one featuring the other team from Melbourne - the Renegades - who take on the Sydney Sixers at this very same venue, Geelong. That game begins at 1:45 pm IST (0815 GMT), but the build up will begin well in advance. So please, do tune in early. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
Yes, as expected, LAURIE EVANS HAS BEEN NAMED AS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH.
Earlier, the tiredness from the previous game showed in Melbourne's bowling, with the bowling looking less sharp as compared to Monday and the fielding, a touch shabby. It was sixes galore with as many as 10 balls clearing the ropes. Despite Munro not being around, Perth put on an a batting exhibition, with the exception of Kurtis Patterson. Laurie Evans was the star with a flamboyant 46-ball 69 and it does seem like he would be the player of the match. Please stay tuned for the confirmation...
One feels that it is actually not necessary to talk about the Scorchers' bowling. We are so used to it, aren't we? Terrific new-ball bowlers - be it Behrendorff or Kelly or someone else - then the stifling in the middle overs through Hatzoglou and Agar and eventually, the kill at the death through Tye. This well-oiled unit is simply too good to be attacked. It was Kelly's turn to be a hero in this game, snaring 4 wickets.
A layman or someone watching the game from outside, might just wonder - how does it matter if we keep two back-to-back T20Is? After all, the players are playing only for three-and-a-half hours, right? Well, it does matter. Joe Clarke had opened in the previous game but that knock took so much out of him that he simply was not fit enough to open in this encounter. As a result, the Stars could not quite get a good start with the bat. Yes, Beau Webster and Joe Burns did string a 58-run stand for the second wicket but that came in 42 balls, which was a touch slow. No one else could actually do much and even with Glenn Maxwell returning, not as skipper, but as a pure batter for this contest, Perth hardly had any contest.
What a difference a period of 24 hours makes. On Monday, the Stars were gung ho after beating Adelaide Strikers but come Tuesday, they have been 'scorched' down to earth. We have said this before and are saying this again - Perth Scorchers are the team to beat this season. Yet another comprehensive victory.
In over# 20
1
0
1
1
1W
1
Aaron Hardie 5/0(1)
19.6
1
A nice attempt by Matthew Kelly in the deep. A short ball, on off. Sam Rainbird hangs back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket. Matthew Kelly charges in from the deep and puts in a full stretched dive forward and tries to gather the ball with one hand but it lands safely. The batters take a single. Perth Scorchers win the match by 47 runs.
19.5
.
A slower ball, outside off. Sam Rainbird is beaten by the lack of pace there and couldn't connect it with his bat.
19.4
1
A full toss, on middle. Haris Rauf smashes it back past the bowler to long off for a single.
19.3
1
On a length, on leg. Sam Rainbird flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Haris Rauf is the last man in.
19.2
W
OUT! RUN OUT! A full-length ball, on off. Sam Rainbird throws hit bat at it. The ball goes off the top-edge towards mid off. Two fielders converge but the ball lands safely in the middle. The batters decide to take two runs but the second run was a risky one and Zampa falls way short of the crease. Chris Sabburg throws the ball to the bowler and Hardie whips the bails off quickly. Zampa was miles away from the crease.
19.1
1
Very full, on leg. Zampa defends it to mid on for a quick single.
Aaron Hardie comes into the attack to bowl the final over.
In over# 19
1
1
1
1
1lb
0
Jason Behrendorff 26/1(4)
18.6
1
Touch fuller, on middle and leg. Adam Zampa looks to flick but gets an inside edge onto the pads. The ball rolls to point and Adam Zampa keeps the strike for the next over with a single.
18.5
1
Full and on off, Sam Rainbird gets low and chips it to long off. The fielder takes it on the bounce and the batters take a single.
18.4
1
Short of a length, on off. Adam Zampa plays it over covers for a run.
18.3
1
Length ball, on off. Sam Rainbird swings across the line but gets an inside edge to backward square leg for a single.