Adelaide’s Phil Salt says he’s found form at right time, adding there’s no panic after the Strikers’ costly loss to Hobart Hurricanes
They got caught in a Matthew Wade hurricane on Sunday night, but in-form Adelaide Strikers opener Phil Salt isn’t concerned at his team losing the BBL double finals chance.
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Having been spat from a Matthew Wade hurricane, in-form Adelaide opener Phil Salt says there is ‘no panic’ despite now facing the hard route to a second title.
The Strikers must defeat Hobart or Sydney Thunder in next Saturday’s home Knockout final, then Melbourne Stars or Sydney Sixers in the Challenger and grand final to secure the 2019-20 BBL championship.
Wade’s maiden T20 ton (130 off 61) bankrolled a 10-run win at Adelaide Oval on Sunday night and showcased the Hurricanes skipper’s 2020 World Cup credentials.
Adelaide slipped to third, which cost a top-two finish that offered a direct route to the February 8 grand final.
The Hurricanes host Callum Ferguson’s Thunder in Thursday’s Eliminator.
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There is time for introspection, but no cause for self-doubt said Sussex import Salt.
“No panic, nothing like that, we’re playing good cricket,” he said.
“We’ll be watching whoever is going to come our way on Saturday night in the playoff.
“You can always get better, so we’ll be having those chats and getting ready.”
Hobart’s 1-217 total – powered by a 203-run opening stand between Wade and D’Arcy Short (72 off 55) – put the game beyond Adelaide’s reach.
It was a decisive addendum to Wade and Short’s unbroken 158-run stand that resulted in a 10-wicket thrashing of the Strikers here last season.
Salt’s daring 66 from 33 balls and 79-run stand with captain Travis Head (47 off 37) was responsible for a respectable Strikers (8-207) reply.
“It was a good chase and I back us against anyone now,” said Salt, despite Adelaide’s attack appearing flat after backing up from a Perth trip that delivered a fourth-straight win.
“As a side we were quite relaxed and quite free, and we got pretty close.
“It took two pretty outstanding knocks by Shorty and Wadey, and they (Hobart) finished quite well with the ball.”
Salt has impressed with successive, blistering half centuries against Perth and Hobart in a timely form surge.
“(I’m) happy with it, at the right time, the business end of the competition, so I am very confident about the next few games,” said Salt, who has combined for 408 runs with opening partner Jake Weatherald.
No Striker has registered a ton this season, while Wade and Short have one apiece.
One of Adelaide’s batsman will have to go big in remaining matches if it is to win a second title in three years, and Salt is shaping as the man most likely.
The Strikers’ hierarchy must decide whether to persist with Billy Stanlake, as elite batsmen use the tearaway’s pace to clear short, square boundaries at Adelaide Oval.
Stanlake’s 30 overs have cost 266 runs at 66.5 runs apiece and a team-high 8.86 economy rate.
Leg-spinner Liam O’Connor remains an enticing option having excelled in the 2017-18 Big Bash final, while taking four wickets at 20 this season.
Seamer Harry Conway will also push for a recall.
“We’ll go into our various meetings and we’ll talk about what we can do better,” Salt said.