While it looked like it would be the battle of the Marsh's, English import Chris Jordan has made everyone's jaws drop to the ground.
Mitch Marsh has taken the bragging rights between the Marsh brothers as the Perth Scorchers claimed an 11 run win over the Melbourne Renegades at Optus Stadium.
In perfect conditions in Perth, the Scorchers started well but exploded to 7/196 from their 20 overs on the back of Mitch Marsh's 22-ball 56.
It continued the platform set up by Cameron Bancroft who hit 51 off 37 balls in a big score.
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The Renegades were confident of chasing the massive total down with a quick start before Shaun built the response.
But when he was dismissed needing 41 off 18 balls for 55 off 38, it was appeared there may still be too much left despite plenty of wickets still in the shed.
Similarly, Beau Webster's 37-ball 67 threatened late but wickets at the other end hurt the Scorchers' hopes of a fairytale comeback.
While Mitch bowled to Shaun in a moment that had the crowd cheering, Scorchers import Chris Jordan pulled off one of the moments of the year with a stunning outfield grab.
The Renegades' Dan Christian didn't have time to get settled late in the game against the Perth Scorchers and went for it off his second ball.
And he would have gotten away with it if he didn't find Jordan in the outfield.
Parked at long on, Jordan made plenty of ground, before diving at full length to take an absolute screamer in the outfield.
It does not get better than that! Chris 'air' Jordan just did this... 🤯
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 21, 2019
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"Superhero Chris Jordan, that is one of the best catches you'll ever see," Gilchrist said in commentary on Fox Cricket.
"Chris Jordan take a bow, what about that, horizontal in the air, two hands to the ball," Brad Haddin added.
Social media rightly lost its mind for the grab.
Oh my, Chris “Air†Jordan!
— Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) December 21, 2019
That’s as good an outfield catch as you’ll see in #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/0tfvuDYmGM
That's one heck of a catch from Chris Jordan! #BBL09
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) December 21, 2019
Chris Jordan's new logo#BBL09 pic.twitter.com/jSd8W1Q4ql
— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) December 21, 2019
Chris Jordan. What a fieldr. Amazing.
— Matt Somerford (@somerfjord) December 21, 2019
Stunning. @CricViz data ranks Jordan as the world's best T20 fielder. Moments like this show why. #BBL09 https://t.co/UsLbMVKPUd
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) December 21, 2019
Even the Renegades tipped their hats.
Chris Jordan. Respect. That catch is one of the best we'll see #GETONRED https://t.co/r90yB6VQsK
— Melbourne Renegades (@RenegadesBBL) December 21, 2019
After the match, Jordan was humble about the catch and said "it's up there" in the catches he's taken.
"I saw the ball and ran on an angle to cut the angle down and see how far I'd get," he said. "I managed to fling myself at it and it managed to stick. It was a very important wicket for us because he can hurt us at the end as well."
But in the battle of the Marsh's there was only one winner with Mitch much happier with the result.
Shaun even found it in him to back his brother, saying "he was unbelievable tonight, he took the game away from us at the end there" as Mitch hit six sixes in his innings.
Shaun Marsh has gone one behind his brother in their personal match up but his dismissal appeared to leave the Renegades just short of the massive Scorchers total.
While not as quick as Mitch's 50, Shaun hit 55 off 38 before he was caught in the outfield still needing 41 off 18 balls with Fawad Ahmed having him caught on the boundary by Chris Jordan.
In the battle of the Marsh's, Mitch has taken first blood.
The Scorchers skipper slammed 56 off 22 balls as he flexed on his brother and Renegades star Shaun.
But the older Marsh has a chance to go bigger.
Mitch slammed six sixes as he lifted Perth to a massive 7/196 off their 20 overs, including 38 off the last 13 balls.
Cameron Bancroft has found some form in the shortest form of the game, hitting 51 off 37 as the Scorchers got off to a flyer at Optus Stadium in Perth.
Bancroft was the first in the match to pass 50 in the game and was batting well until he holed out in the deep off a Kane Richardson slower ball.
After 14 overs, the Scorchers are 3/123.
The Melbourne Renegades have had to offer an alternative jersey for their clash against the Perth Scorchers but it's not gone too well for fans.
Unable to have orange and red jerseys facing off, the Renegades have a mostly black jersey with red highlights on the shoulders and around the waist.
But most fans are not loving it.
In saying that, Aaron Finch is a fan.
"I don't mind the black actually, the black's a bit more slimming for my physique," he said. "Especially without the big R on the red kit, it reveals a lot."
Gilchrist asked if he was "a fan of the Mars bar".
"C'mon mate, of course I am," Finch joked.
Star Renegades recruit Shaun Marsh can expect an off-putting hug from his brother and a surprise standing ovation from the Perth Scorchers crowd when he returns to his former stomping ground this weekend.
Scorchers fans were left stunned when Marsh left the BBL franchise at the end of last summer to sign a three-year deal with the Renegades.
The 36-year-old is a legend of Western Australia cricket, and less than two months ago struck an unbeaten century to guide the Warriors to the domestic one- day title.
But he’ll be enemy No.1 on Saturday night when he returns to Optus Stadium.
Mitch Marsh is captain of the Scorchers and will be doing his best to rattle his older brother.
And he wants the crowd to join in on the act.
“The booing will probably spur him on, so I’m kind of hoping everyone gives him a standing ovation and shows him plenty of love. Hopefully that will rattle him,” Mitch said.
“It will be a bit weird seeing him in red, but I’m looking forward to it.
“I think he will be nervous. Hopefully he doesn’t go too well.
"I’ll give him a bit (of stick) I reckon. I might even give him a hug, why not? There’s got to be a bit of theatre doesn’t there?”
The Marsh brothers have been teammates for years within the WA set-up, but there was one previous occasion when they went up against each other in professional ranks.
“I played against him in the IPL once,” Mitch said. “That was definitely a bit of a weird feeling.
“He hit me for four first ball, so hopefully that won’t be the case this time.”
Shaun Marsh top-scored for his new team with 42 on his Renegades debut in a loss to Sydney Thunder on Thursday night, and expected to fill the role of villain in his home state.
“I’ll probably cop a few boos, but I’m looking forward to getting back home and seeing my family, and obviously it’s a really important game for us after our loss,” Shaun said.
“It’s going to be strange playing against them, but I’m also looking forward to it and hopefully we can get the win.
“It’s going to be a bit weird facing (Mitch), like being back in the backyard.
“Hopefully I can get away and get a few runs out there.”
Mitch has been cleared to bowl again after recovering from his broken hand, meaning he might get the chance to exact some revenge against his brother.
The Scorchers’ bid to rebound from last summer’s wooden spoon got off to a terrible start when they copped a eight-wicket thrashing from the Sydney Sixers on Wednesday night.
– AAP
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