Adelaide Strikers 184 for 6 (Matt Short 84, Lynn 41, Hose 40, Abbott 3-37) defeated Sydney Sixers 133 for 7 (Silk 36, Thornton 4-20, Rashid 3-21) by 51 runs after Thornton bagged a four-for and Rashid Khan a three-for.
Adelaide Strikers have made an outstanding start to their BBL campaign, outscoring Sydney Sixers by 51 runs at Adelaide Oval.
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After amassing an impressive 184 for 6 on Wednesday evening, largely thanks to Matthew Short’s 84, Henry Thornton’s career-best 4 for 20 assisted Strikers in limiting the Sixers to 133 for 7.
Thornton and legspinner Rashid Khan shone for Strikers, who exacted some retribution for last season’s Challenger Final between the two sides at the SCG, which the Sixers won in a last-ball heartbreaker to advance to the decider.
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Jordan Silk led the Sixers, whose lackluster response stumbled early and never recovered. Thornton, who entered the game in the third over, struck twice in his first three balls, dismissing dangerous duo Kurtis Patterson and James Vince.
Rashid’s wrong ‘uns claimed both Josh Philippe and captain Moises Henriques as the Strikers’ grip on the game tightened.
Sixers were aiming to match the home side’s 30-run haul when they took the two-over power surge but could only muster six runs, which were corralled by Strikers’ two best bowlers, Rashid and Peter Siddle.
Thornton reappeared near the end of the attack and dispatched Dan Christian and Sean Abbott. Earlier, Short led the Strikers’ bat-first assault after surviving the BBL’s first-ever DRS challenge.
After losing Jake Weatherald early on, the Strikers were reduced to 2 for 2 when umpire Bruce Oxenford ruled Short lbw to Abbott.
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Short successfully appealed the decision, with television replays confirming the ball had missed the stumps, and made the most of his reprieve, smoking the Sixers attack in a classy 53-ball knock.
Short was brilliantly supported by the competition’s all-time leading run-scorer Chris Lynn and swashbuckling England import Adam Hose, who both shone for their new side.
Abbott and 19-year-old Afghan legspinner Izharulhaq Naveed were the Sixers’ standout bowlers, taking three and two wickets respectively.