Adelaide Strikers go down swinging to Perth Scorchers after 344 runs hit on Karen Rolton Oval
It was a day for runs and Karen Rolton Oval had 344 of them bashed in one day but the Strikers ultimately had their hearts broken despite coming agonisingly close against Perth Scorchers.
Big Bash
Don't miss out on the headlines from Big Bash. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Big weekend has Strikers sky high
- Prizes, discounts: check out the latest Advertiser subscriber rewards
IT was a heart-stopper that ended in heartbreak as Adelaide Strikers went down to Perth Scorchers at Karen Rolton Oval on Saturday.
Needing 11 runs off the final over to win – and with the heroics of middle-order batter Bridget Patterson (run out on the last ball after bashing 60 from 32 balls) earning a standing ovation – the home side fell agonisingly short by two runs.
Set a commanding target of 174 by the Scorchers – on the back of an 80-run innings from player of the match Amy Jones – Adelaide got so close thanks to half-centuries from Patterson and opening batter Sophie Devine (58 runs off 50).
When it comes to heartbreak, there’s an old song that summed up Adelaide’s day: “Breaking up is hard to do”.
After winning the bat flip and sending Perth into bat, Strikers bowlers struggled all innings to break up the Scorchers’ opening pair: the 141 first-wicket partnership between English import Jones and the Australian Women’s captain Meg Lanning set up a huge run chase.
Jones and Lanning were strong with the bat and you could tell the Strikers were rattled when the decision was made to bring the team’s No. 1 bowler Megan Schutt back into the attack (for her final over of the afternoon) with six overs still remaining.
Stream over 50 sports live and on-demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
The home side was desperate for a breakthrough (and possibly a little concerned considering that during their last game – a nine-wicket loss to Brisbane Heat, the bowling line-up only took one wicket).
But it was not for lack of trying. In the 18th over, Strikers star all-rounder Sophie Devine was handed the ball and she finally had Jones out, caught by Lauren Winfield.
Her 80 (58) was compiled thanks to nine shots reaching the ropes and a further two clearing it. The next over and Lanning was gone: caught impressively by Suzie Bates.
Lanning’s innings – 64 runs from 50 balls – was built after a shaky start. She survived an appeal for a stumping off Amanda-Jade Wellington’s bowling in the eighth over, but the Scorchers captain got her foot back in her crease so quickly, it looked fast even on the slow-mo replay.
After a wicket drought for most of the match, three came in the final three overs after Sarah Coyte clean-bowled Nat Sciver and Perth’s 3/173 was an imposing total.
The run chase started beautifully, with Bates and Devine – Adelaide’s “Smash Sisters” – piling on a quick-fire 45-run partnership before Bates was caught at deep mid wicket for 23 (25).
McGrath came and went quickly, which brought Patterson to the crease.
Her heroic 60 came thanks to three sixes (one of which unfortunately hit someone in the crowd requiring stitches to his cheek). Disappointment was written all over her face when she had a swing and miss on the penultimate ball, leaving four runs from the last ball for victory.
Strikers return to Karen Rolton Oval to face Melbourne Stars from 1.40pm Sunday, with the hope that heartbreak can be overcome.