Week Three Review (KFC BBL)
Week three of the BBL was an intriguing one, with tight contests in all of the games. The cricket being played was of a high standard and a good spectacle for the neutral.
Thunder v Hurricanes Review
The Hurricanes started the game extremely slowly, scoring the first twenty-six bowls at a run a ball. What followed was a brilliant exhibition of batting from Short and Mcdermott, they formed a partnership of a quick fire one hundred and four runs, setting the Thunder one hundred and ninety runs for victory. The Thunder started well with Patterson and Butler adding sixty-nine for the first wicket. Buttler was the standout with the bat for the Thunder. In the end it was a team effort for the Hurricanes, who ended up with the win by nine runs.
Scorchers v Sixers Review
The Sixers played reasonably well with the bat with a few cameos, without any stand outs. They managed to score a respectable one hundred and sixty-seven runs. When it was the Scorchers turn to bat, they lost two quick wickets early. Following that Klinger and Turner formed a formidable partnership, giving the Scorchers the ascendancy in the balance of play. Then Sams managed to break the partnership and give the Sixers some hope of obtaining victory. Then Sams took the wicket of Klinger when he was on eighty-three runs late in the innings with the ball caught near the boundary line by Maddinson. In spite of that the Scorchers won by six wickets.
Stars v Heat Review
The Stars run rate was just six an over after the first four overs of the power play. The Stars scrapped their way to a score of one hundred and forty-one runs. That target would prove much too small as Mccullum and Lynn were their big hitting best; they hit three sixes each, giving the Heat victory by nine wickets.
Renegades v Sixers Review
The Sixers had scored only fourteen runs in the first ten overs bowled. The Sixers scrapped their way to one hundred and eleven runs mostly thanks to a thirty-two not out from stand in captain, Botha. Despite losing an early wicket, the Renegades chase never looked in doubt, running out winners by eight wickets.
Hurricanes v Strikers
The Hurricanes reached a formidable score thanks mostly to a brilliant ninety-six from Short. In replay the Strikers required one hundred and eighty-four runs for victory. The Strikers were in trouble early losing two early wickets. They remained there and there about with regards to reaching the total set for victory. One man stood between them and victory; Cult figure Archer took three wickets and crucially only conceded fifteen runs, bowling at an extremely economical rate, helping the Hurricanes win by seven runs.
Heat v Scorchers Review
The Heat gained the ascendancy early in this contest with Lynn and Mccullum adding more than fifty runs at a run rate of over ten an over. The Heat lost their way a bit losing four for thirty-five, that brought Cutting to the crease; he made forty-six runs from just twenty balls. From there on in the game was never in doubt with the Scorchers losing their way, thanks to some good bowling from Doggett and Steketee. They lost the game by forty-nine runs.
Stars v Renegades Review
The Stars responded well after losing the early wicket of Wright; Dunk and Pietersen formed a solid partnership, adding seventy-one for the second wicket. The Stars may have only lost four wickets, but their run rate was less than eight an over. The Renegades run chase was on track to reach the target set from the start going at over ten an over for the first four overs bowled. They cruised to a six wicket victory.
Thunder v Strikers Review
The Strikers batted first. Every player who batted for the Strikers managed to reach double figures, apart from Lehmann, which helped them post a respectable total of one hundred and fifty-eight runs. It was a team effort for the Strikers with the ball as well, with all five bowlers used taking at least one wicket, which helped them obtain victory by twenty-five runs.