BBL7 - Scorchers v Sixers Recap - My 6 Takes
1. Scorchers Make It Four on the Trot
The Perth Scorchers continued their unblemished start to BBL7 with a tense 6-wicket victory over the Sydney Sixers in the final over at the WACA last night. The Scorchers broke another record last night, chasing their highest score ever at the WACA in running down the Sixers 4/167 with four balls to spare. The Scorchers were helped by an outstanding 83 from Michael Klinger and 45 from Ashton Turner, as the pair shared a 97-run third wicket partnership to tilt a game the Scorchers had been behind in for long periods. The Sixers dropped to 0-4 and, despite an improved performance, look long odds now to get back into the finals hunt with just six games remaining.
2. Klinger The Match Winner
Michael Klinger’s return couldn't have come at a better time for Perth over the past couple of games, as he strengthens their batting line up significantly. Klinger was at his scheming and workmanlike best last night, making 83 from 71 balls, and controlling a run chase that looked difficult from the outset for a team used to chasing scores of around 20 runs less. Klinger has the ability to hit boundaries without taking huge risks, and played a lot of classical cricket shots along the way. It just goes to show T20 openers don’t all have to be like Brendon McCullum or Darcy Short, trying to bash balls over the rope from the outset. Klinger has an amazing T20 record, averaging 37 with the bat from 159 games. He is exactly the sort of player Perth need at the top with his cricket brain and experience allowing them to bat around him, as they did once again last night.
3. Turner Shows Growing Maturity
Ashton Turner is a player who has enjoyed the increased responsibility placed upon him at the Scorchers this year, in the absence of many of the squad’s batsmen. Last year Turner was reduced to batting cameos, from Number 6 or 7, whilst this year he has a very important role at Number 4 in the absence of the Marsh brothers and Sam Whiteman. Turner is one of the hardest and longest hitters across the competition and played a couple of outstanding shots which cleared the ropes with ease last night. Turner has now played two match-winning type innings against the Sixers this year and, like many of this Perth squad, is stepping up to the plate and showing the depth, as well as the winning mentality, of this squad under Justin Langer.
4. Abbott's Last overs Woes Continue
Sean Abbott had an outstanding BBL6 campaign where he finished the leading wicket taker; however, I'm not convinced he is the most reliable death bowler. Even last year, Abbott went for over 8 runs per over, and this year he has conceded 143 runs at nearly 9 runs per over through four games. Whilst there is no doubt Abbott is a strike weapon, with his ability to take wickets, the pressure got to him in the final over against both the Thunder and the Scorchers as he coughed up the required nine runs in just two balls last night. Two woefully executed leg side full tosses were not what the Sixers needed with their season on the line. There is not a whole lot of experience in the pace bowling stocks, however it was poor captaincy from Johan Botha to allow their best seamer in the tournament, Daniel Sams, to be left an over short with 2/25 from 3 overs.
5. Silk Looks Class
I have to say, nearly every time I watch Jordan Silk bat in BBL cricket, he looks like a very good player. In my opinion he is by far and away the Sixers’ best batsman at the minute, and it's a bit of a mystery why he didn't play the opening two games. In fairness to the Sixers, they have a star-studded line up which simply hasn't performed including English internationals Roy and Billings as well as the likes of Hughes, Maddinson and Henriques. However, Silk is a very intelligent player capable of manipulating the ball and playing the power game as he has demonstrated in both his innings so far, in top scoring in both games for the Sixers. His 45 not out from 33 balls last night elevated the Sixers to a more than competitive score and, despite Daniel Hughes coming back into the side, I would like to see Silk retain the Number 4 position for the rest of the tournament. He is also an outstanding fielder and, with his sharp running between wickets, brings plenty of energy to a Sixers’ side that can look a bit casual at times.