13-14 Big Bash Thread

Memo to Bravo : Finch made a DUCK last night ! 

Heat stay alive

The gentle art of spin made a mockery of big bashers as Brisbane Heat sensationally kept their title defence alive with a 32-run win against Adelaide Strikers on Saturday.
The Heat's finals prospects appeared doomed when posting just 7-129 on the batsman-friendly Adelaide Oval.
But Brisbane then bowled the Strikers out for a paltry 97 in 18.2 overs.
Brisbane quick Cameron Gannon took three wickets and captain James Hopes, Ryan Harris and Daniel Vettori each claimed two victims to ensure the Heat remain in contention for the play-offs.
Brisbane play Hobart Hurricanes on Thursday with the winner likely to join Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers in the finals.
Brisbane's trump card on Saturday was spinner Vettori, who with his Adelaide counterpart Johan Botha joined the list of most miserly BBL bowlers.
Vettori took 2-10 from his four overs - by economy rate, the third best bowling figures in BBL history.
His game-turning spell came after Adelaide captain Botha took 2-11 from his four overs - the fourth-best figures by economy rate, until taken down a rung when bettered by Vettori.
New Zealander Vettori and South African Botha produced their feats on an Adelaide Oval deck which was receptive to spin, but hardly a raging turner.
Both used guile rather than grip, with Vettori shrewdly employing drift and arm-balls while Botha favoured a flatter trajectory and doosras.
Vettori helped cripple Adelaide's run chase, with only Nathan Reardon (33), Tim Ludeman (22) and Michael Klinger (17) reaching double figures.
And earlier, only four Brisbane batsmen managed double-figures scores - a list headed Craig Kieswetter's 51 from 46 balls.
The Heat's 19-year-old debutant Ben McDermott, the son of Australian Test great Craig McDermott, made 30 from 26 deliveries and Luke Pomersbach (20) and James Hopes (12 not out) were the only other batsmen to pass nine runs.


- See more at: www.bigbash.com.au/news-and-videos/2014/...sthash.GGTmKxUn.dpuf

Sixers hold nerve for two-run win

Sydney Sixers 6 for 151 (Henriques 55, Rimmington 2-35) beat Melbourne Renegades 5 for 149 (Bravo 38, Hill 35) by two runs

Brett Lee bowled a tight last over to help Sydney Sixers to a two-run win that ended Melbourne Renegades' semi-finals aspirations. The Renegades needed 17 off six deliveries but could only manage eight in the first five as Lee bowled full and fast. Although his last delivery was hit for a six, the match had been decided already. The win pushed the Sixers to third place with 10 points.

Put into bat, Sixers lost Nic Maddinson in the second over, to left-arm spinner Aaron O'Brien's first ball, as he missed a heave to off side and was stumped. Moises Henriques joined Michael Lumb and upped the run rate by smashing O'Brien for a six and three fours in his next over. Lumb, who was dropped in the fifth over, top-edged a full toss to be caught at cover in the next over. Muttiah Muralitharan and Matthew Gale slowed things a bit, giving 17 runs in the next three overs, before Steven Smith clobbered Gale for a six over deep midwicket to push the pedal again.

Smith handed a return catch to O'Brien to fall for 25 but Henriques went on to score his fifty off 36 balls in the 14th over. He was dismissed for 55, stumped down the leg side off Muralitharan. Marcus North lost two partners - Jordan Silk and Daniel Smith - in the last seven balls of the innings but scored an unbeaten 30 off 21 to take the Sixers to 151.

The Renegades started slow in their chase, scoring 13 in the first three overs, before picking up pace in Nathan Lyon's first over. They were 35 after five overs when a direct hit from Henriques, at cover point, lit the bails at the non-striker's end to break the opening stand. Michael Hill kept the required run rate in control with boundaries in the next two overs but was caught at long-on for 35. Dwayne Bravo eased the nerves for them with two sixes but a mix-up led to Alex Doolan's run-out.

They needed 60 from 42 and tight bowling from Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon made it 32 from 18. Lee had two overs left and full-length deliveries from him in the 18th over meant the Renagades couldn't score a boundary. The equation came down to 25 from the last two overs. In the 19th, Sixers struck twice and gave away just eight runs to swing the game in their favour.

Heat all the way and hope Cam continues to take a few.


IPL  far better in my view.

Saw the match last night between the Renegades and the Sixers. Was hoping for a repeat of the 2nd ODI, and it looked that way for a while with Bravo threatening to do what Faulkner did.  Renegades didn't get there in the end, but it was still relatively close.

Mailer, you're a Brissy fan?

Hobart Ben Dunked Brissy

Dunk leads Hurricanes to easy win www.espncricinfo.com/big-bash-league-201...nt/story/712327.html #fanatix via @cricketaus

Bloody hell, Dunk's a T20 monster. He's been just scoring like a madman with ease. Good onja, Benny.
Stars topping the chart like there's no tomorrow.
So it's Stars vs Hurricanes and Scorchers vs Sixers.
I'm thinking, it'd be Scorchers vs Stars final. lets see.

Grand Final just started.  Scorchers vs the Hurricanes. First time I've been able to see a match fully in ages. Probably the last time in a while with the work I have to do :/.    Scorchers started off well. Adelaide and Melbourne not in the final, so I'm going try and be neutral and hope for a good match.

Scorchers are 2 for 98 after 12 overs and are starting to smash it.  Looks like they'll get a good competitive total without it being a blow out before the second innings.  This match looks like it's going to be a lot of fun.