Matt Short belts fastest ton in Adelaide Strikers’ history to lead thumping of Brisbane Heat

Matt Short hammered the fastest century in the Strikers’ history on the way to the biggest BBL total ever hit by the club, as they put the defending champion Heat to the sword at Adelaide Oval.

Masterful Matt Short bludgeoned the fastest century in Adelaide Strikers history as his side posted a club record total to keep its finals hopes alive with a commanding 56-run win against the Brisbane Heat on Saturday night.

After missing the past three games with a broken toe, the star skipper returned to blast 109 from 54 balls, including 10 fours and seven sixes, bringing up his century in just 49 balls in a superb display of scintillating stroke play at Adelaide Oval.

The back-to-back Big Bash MVP shared a 121-run opening partnership with Chris Lynn, who belted 47 runs from 20 balls, including five fours and three sixes, after the Strikers were sent in.

Short and opening partner Chris Lynn went big from the get-go, reaching 0-62 from the first four overs, and reached triple figures inside seven overs.

Lynn was the aggressor early, smashing 42 of the Strikers’ 62 runs from the Power Play, but was unable to field after reporting hamstring tightness.

Both sides suffered injury blows with Heat skipper Colin Munro forced to bat down the order due to a finger dislocation.

Lynn and Alex Ross (44 not out) played important support roles as the Strikers raced to the second highest total in Big Bash history.

The Strikers eclipsed their previous best (3-230 v Hobart in January, 2023) on their way to 5-251 as they punished the Heat in every facet of the game.

In his first game for the Strikers this season, Australian Test keeper Alex Carey batted at No.3 and crunched a four and six before he was bowled for 13.

Matt Short made Strikers history with the fastest century in club history. Picture: Getty Images

The Heat finally dismissed Lynn for 47 from 20 balls, but at 1-121 after 8.5 overs, the bulk of the damage had been done.

The Strikers reached 3-196 with five overs to go in their innings, and while they lost a few more wickets, did enough to set the second-biggest total in BBL history.

It was a rough night for the Heat, as fielders grassed or missed catching opportunities, and the likes of Short, Lynn and Alex Ross (44 from 19) unleashed.

This is crazy hitting!

Matt Short has his fastest fifty in the BBL (24 balls).

Short and Lynn have brought up a one-hundred run stand off 40 balls - including 7 sixes.

And - how about this crowd catch! #BBL14pic.twitter.com/IoZoaJcnxt

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 11, 2025

Chasing an imposing target of 252 to win, the Heat were 2-96 after 10 overs, with the required run rate hovering just north of 15 an over.

The Heat took the Power Surge in the 11th over but it started in disastrous fashion when Nathan McSweeney was brilliantly run out by Jamie Overton.

The Heat needed 107 runs from 42 balls after Matthew Renshaw took down the 13th over, bowled by Lloyd Pope, for 23 runs including three sixes.

That equation had deteriorated when Munro bravely came in at No.7, but he lasted just two balls before holing out for a duck off the bowling of D’Arcy Short, who finished with figures of 4-15 in his 100th BBL game.

The Strikers celebrated a massive win on an historic night. Picture: Getty Images

FINALS FLICKER

With just two wins from seven games, the Strikers started the clash at the bottom of the Big Bash table, three points adrift of the fourth-placed Heat.

But with two games remaining, the Strikers have climbed off the bottom of the ladder and are one of four teams on six points, although the Melbourne Renegades have played one less game.

NOT NESER’S NIGHT

Michael Neser’s class is unquestioned, but it wasn’t the allrounder’s night.

Neser’s two Power Play overs went for 29 runs, and he finished with the unflattering figures of 0-53.

He also dropped Matt Short when he was on 86, grassing a tough chance diving to his right, and put down a regulation catch in the deep late in the innings.

It was a rough night for Brisbane Heat’s Michael Neser. Picture: Getty Images

With Munro unable to bat at the top of the order, Neser was handed the tough task of opening.

In his first time in the role, Neser belted debutant Liam Haskett for back-to-back sixes in a bright start before he was well caught by Alex Ross on 18.

Despite Neser’s departure, Jack Wood and McSweeney got the chase going in the right direction with a quickfire partnership of 65 off 37 balls before Wood was caught in front by D’Arcy Short with his first ball.

WELL CAUGHT, DAD

McSweeney heaved Haskett deep into the Members’ where he was well caught by a bearded gentleman, who threw the ball back without showing much joy at his well taken crowd catch.

Turns out the reason for the deadpan response, in a bizarre coincidence, is because it was Haskett’s dad!

No way!

Liam Haskett got hit for six by Nathan McSweeney. The guy in the crowd that caught the catch?

His DAD 😆 #BBL14pic.twitter.com/qyVVGXNGxt

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 11, 2025

Originally published as Matt Short belts fastest ton in Adelaide Strikers’ history to lead thumping of Brisbane Heat