Perth Scorchers beat Brisbane Heat by 40 runs in BBL

Perth Scorchers’ spin duo Fawad Ahmed 3-16 and Ashton Agar 2-16 secured a convincing 40 run win over Brisbane Heat in their New Year’s Day BBL encounter today, after Cameron Bancroft had scored a skilful half century batting first.

Match Summary

Perth Scorchers 149-6 (20 Ovs) – (Cameron Bancroft 50, Mitchell Marsh 26; Zahir Khan 2-18, Ben Laughlin 2-32, Ben Cutting 1-20)

Brisbane Heat 109 – (18.4 Ovs) - (Fawad Ahmed 3-16, Ashton Agar 2-16)

Result - Perth Scorchers won by 40 runs

 

The Scorchers begin the new year in style with a dominant win over the Heat on the Gold Coast! #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/5dZ4LyEEr6

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 1, 2020

Perth Scorchers won the toss and decided to bat first against Brisbane Heat at the Metricon Stadium, Carrara and scored a below par 149-6 in their 20 Overs with Cameron Bancroft 50 and Mitchell Marsh 26 the main run-getters and Zahir Khan 2-18, Ben Laughlin 2-32 and Ben Cutting 1-20 the pick of the bowlers for Brisbane Heat.

In reply, Brisbane Heat got off to stuttering start losing 3 wickets for just 21 runs inside of 5 overs and when Sam Heazlett was out for 12 that seemed it for the Heat and they were eventually bundled out for  ,with spin duo Fawad Ahmed 3-16 and Ashton Agar 2-16 the stars with the ball for the Scorchers. A late flourish from tail-enders Zahir Khan 19* and Ben Laughlin 17 gave some light entertainment for the home crowd towards the end, but with 46 runs required from the last two overs it was always going to be the Scorchers night.

Match Report

An inspired bowling performance from the Perth Scorchers ensured they began 2020 in style, as they notched a 40-run win over the Brisbane Heat at Metricon Stadium on Wednesday night.

Spin Kings Fawad Ahmed (3-16) and Ashton Agar (2-16) combined brilliantly to put the pressure on the home side, as the pair conceded just 32 runs from their eight overs.

Defending a total of 149 on a tricky batting wicket, the Scorchers put the home side on the back foot early with an impressive powerplay bowling display.

The Heat were 4-38 after their first six overs, thanks to breakthroughs from seamers Jhye Richardson, Chris Jordan and Matt Kelly.

Ahmed and Agar then put the squeeze on Brisbane’s middle order to eventually bowl them out for 109 and set up the Scorchers second win of the KFC Big Bash League season.

“It’s great to get a really solid win,” Agar said.

“Fuzz (Ahmed) and I room together and every time we walk out of the hotel we say ‘let’s build this partnership’.

“Tonight we did that really nicely so it’s really pleasing for us moving forward.

“Traditionally we’ve have been extremely good with our defence, defending totals we shouldn’t defend against some good teams.

“Tonight we really showed that starting well is the key in any T20 game, put the squeeze on in the middle and then finishing the job.”

The night started well when skipper Mitch Marsh won the Bat Flip and elected to bat first.

Josh Inglis (27) and Liam Livingstone (12) put on 30 runs for the opening partnership before the latter was trapped LBW.

Enter Cam Bancroft (50), who played a crucial role in anchoring the Scorchers innings.

He was supported well by Mitch Marsh (26) as the pair clubbed three sixes and three fours between them.

The Scorchers now travel back to Perth where they’ll prepare for a clash with the Hobart Hurricanes at Optus Stadium on Sunday evening.

 

 

 

 

 

Teams

 

Brisbane Heat - Tom Banton, Max Bryant, Chris Lynn(c), Matthew Renshaw, Sam Heazlett, Jimmy Peirson(wk), Ben Cutting, Mark Steketee, Josh Lalor, Ben Laughlin, Zahir Khan

Perth Scorchers - Liam Livingstone, Josh Inglis(wk), Cameron Bancroft, Ashton Turner, Mitchell Marsh(c), Cameron Green, Ashton Agar, Chris Jordan, Jhye Richardson, Matthew Kelly, Fawad Ahmed

 

Match Details

 

Start Time: 08:10

Toss: Perth Scorchers won the toss and decided to bat

Venue: Metricon Stadium, Carrara

Officials: Donovan Koch, Anthony Wilds, Sam Nogajski, David Taylor, Robert Stratford

 

 

 

©Cricket World 2020