Scorchers XI beaten in GSL opener

After captain Ashton Turner won the toss and elected to bowl, the Scorchers XI made a bright start to the match, reducing the Qalanders to 4-97 in the 14^th over.

Turner led the way in the field, taking a stunning one-handed catch diving to his left inside the 30-yard circle to dismiss Parvez Hossain Emon off the bowling D’Arcy Short.

Allrounder Ashton Agar produced another brilliant piece of fielding on the boundary soon after Turner’s effort to dismiss Shayan Jahangir for 65.

Agar had to jump to take the catch at the long-off boundary, but with his momentum carrying him over the rope he had to quickly throw the ball in the air and return to the field of play to complete the stunning effort.

A 23-ball 50 from Farhan Yousaf, the quickest in GSL history, helped his side set the Scorchers XI 172 for victory.

Jhye Richardson (3-37) and Brody Couch (2-29) led the way with the ball for the Scorchers XI.

Andre Fletcher, who was called into the Scorchers XI squad earlier this week when Mark Chapman and Aaron Hardie withdrew from the tournament, belted seven fours in his 35 that got the run chase off to a strong start.

When Joel Curtis (14) and Turner (two) were dismissed in quick succession, the Scorchers XI were left reeling at 4-90 in the 13^th over.

A 34-run partnership between Usman Khan (41) and Dian Forrester (23) gave the Scorchers XI hope going into the closing stages of the chase, before three quick wickets saw the Qalanders wrestle back momentum.

The Scorchers XI’s response finished on 7-155.

The side will be out to bounce back in the second match of the campaign against San Francisco Unicorns on Sunday night WST.