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Adelaide Strikers started their Big Bash League (BBL) 2022-23 campaign in grand style, defeating Sydney Sixers in their first match by 51 runs at their home ground on Wednesday, December 14.
Batting first, Strikers posted a massive 184/6 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to a sensational knock by opener Matthew Short. The right-handed batter smashed a brilliant 84 off just 53 deliveries with the help of 11 fours and two sixes.
Apart from Short, veteran Chris Lynn and Englishman Adam Hose also chipped in with valuable contributions of 41 and 40, respectively. For the Sixers, Sean Abbott, as usual, shined with the ball, taking a three-wicket haul while conceding 37 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Similarly, Izharulhaq Naveed, the mystery sensation from Afghanistan, picked up a couple of scalps for 25 in 4 overs.
In response, the Sixers never really got the momentum they would have anticipated as the Moises Henriques-led could only reach 133/7, losing the contest by 51 runs. Jordan Silk, with 36 off 25 balls, was their top-scorer in the match.
Henry Thornton and Rashid Khan were the pick of the bowlers for the Strikers. While Thomton grabbed four wickets for 20 in his quota of 4 overs, Rashid bagged a three-wicket haul while giving away 21 runs in 4 overs.
“It’s nice to get a win on the board early, we wanted to get a good start in the batting PP, and that helped us settle later on. It was a complete performance, in the end, we were good in all three facets of the game,” said Short after the game.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
The Strikers are on the board! #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/EXL7vZ4ssG
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 14, 2022
What an awesome night at @TheAdelaideOval 🙌 #BBL12 #StrikeShow pic.twitter.com/N8OqnB190x
— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) December 14, 2022
Love the way Matthew Short plays a lot. Stood out last season and has picked up where he left off. Keen to take the attack to the bowlers and can access different areas of the ground with ease and with such power. #BBL12
— Harrison Burridge (@hburridge2) December 14, 2022
Henry Thornton finishes with 4/20, the best BBL bowling figures by a Strikers paceman not named Peter Siddle.#BBL12
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) December 14, 2022
Matthew Short's hitting runs all around the ground, so can we refer to Adelaide Oval as a Short circuit?#BBL12
— Gigs (@AndrewGigacz) December 14, 2022
Adelaide Strikers won the game by 51 runs.#BBL12 pic.twitter.com/Pkv2u6yuzf
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 14, 2022
That's the benefit of having Rashid Khan in your XI. He provides you the security of an over in the power surge.
The power surge for the batting teams vs Adelaide Strikers gets limited to one over only. If the batters try to take him on, they are likely to lose their wicket.
— Darpan Jain (@darpanjain103) December 14, 2022
Not the start we wanted, but we go again in Perth on Saturday #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/BWHLSNi5T6
— Sydney Sixers (@SixersBBL) December 14, 2022
I always take a liking to the high-intent powerplay batters & that's the plain reason why I am looking forward to seeing what Matthew Short does in this BBL.
A very impressive all-rounder & your budget T20 player, *for overseas comps.
— Jeet Vachharajani🏏 (@Jeetv27) December 14, 2022
Matthew Short amongst the runs in the first game this season after being quite good last year as well, such a good batter and decent spin option as well.
— Rajdeep Singh (@travisheadera) December 14, 2022
