Talking Points from Brilliant Win Over Thunder

Below are several talking points from the brilliant team performance, headlined by an outstanding captain’s knock. 

AT delivers masterclass, milestone or not
If ever a player deserved their maiden Big Bash century, it was Ashton Turner tonight. The fact he finished agonisingly short of that landmark – before Sydney Thunder’s largest ever non-Sydney Smash crowd – was the only negative of an astonishing 99 not-out from 41 deliveries. The Scorchers were 3-34 from 5.3 overs when Turner walked to the crease, and 8-202 when he strode off undefeated, having blasted eight sixes and as many fours to all pockets of the showgrounds. Crucially, the Thunder were unable to settle into any plans as Turner whacked 45 from 21 deliveries of spin and 44 from 20 with pace on the ball, eclipsing his previous best BBL score of 84no from 47, also against the Thunder. Aggressive early, dominant during the Power Surge and explosive late, Turner perfectly demonstrated the bold cricket he wants his team to play, becoming the first Scorcher to strike 100 Big Bash sixes in the process.

Aaron adapts and excels
A regular in the Scorchers’ top order for several seasons, Aaron Hardie slid down to seven to accommodate the return of star wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglish at four, and delivered in spades. Hardie (28 from 16) read the situation superbly, initially feeding strike to Turner then teeing off when the Power Surge was called. He bowled equally well, dismissing Sam Konstas and Chris Green for figures of 2-7 from two overs in an excellent all-round performance.  

Young pair impresses again
With their ages combined, 20-year-old quick Mahli Beardman and 22-year-old spin-bowling allrounder Cooper Connolly are four years younger than Brad Hogg when the Scorchers great played his last Big Bash match, with 97 fewer games of T20 experience. You wouldn’t know it, watching how the rising stars have handled the last two matches. Beardman (1-27 from four overs) and Connolly (2-26 from three) backed up strong bowling performances against the Hurricanes on Boxing Day to be among their team’s best bowlers in Sydney, collectively accounting for David Warner (Beardman), Cameron Bancroft and Sam Billings (both Connolly). Beardman’s Power Surge contribution, meanwhile, ended with four consecutive dot balls.

Superb Surge
Speaking of the Power Surge, the Scorchers enjoyed 24-run advantage when the Surge overs ended. Hardie set the tone by taking 18 from Nathan McAndrew before Turner cashed in another 17 from Daniel Sams, the pair combining for seven boundaries. The Thunder, meanwhile, could only manage 2-11 as Joel Paris (2-6) and Beardman (0-5) applied the clamps and pushed the game well beyond the hosts’ reach.

Net Run Rate receives much-needed boost
In a competition of increasingly fine margins, every run counts, making the Scorchers’ big win particularly significant. The visitors entered the match ranked fifth with the Net Run Rate (NRR) of 0.035 (fourth in the competition) and finished in third with the competition’s second-best NRR of 1.034, behind only ladder leaders Melbourne Stars (1.779). Wins are clearly the main currency of any tournament, but tonight’s margin certainly helped Perth’s cause.

Gloves off as Allen thrives in outfield
Stand-in ‘keeper Finn Allen seemingly enjoyed the chance to roam the outfield while Inglis wore the gloves, taking two impressive catches at long-on. First, he cut the corner then dived forward and left to complete a difficult chance offered by Warner, who was looking sharp at the crease. Later, in the 15^th over, he slid into another opportunity off Green’s bat, slamming the door shut on a miracle Thunder resurgence. Allen’s efforts were emblematic the Scorchers’ all-round polished fielding performance.