Jon Wells has established himself as the most reliable and versatile element in Adelaide Striker’s top shots, and his unbeaten 55 of 36 balls that night were perhaps the most important hit in his most productive BBL season.
When Wells and his team arrived at the threshold of 3: 51 and fought for every dynamic, he was generally unimpressed and crossed four boundaries and two sixes when he brought the Strikers to a competitive sum that – for the first half of theirs Innings – appeared out of reach. The 31-year-old has now 400 runs for BBL | 09 completed and is one of the best fighters in this campaign.
Wes Agar started BBL | 09 as an auxiliary member of Adelaide Strikers’ suture attack. But as the third-highest leading wicket-taker after Rashid Khan and Peter Siddle, Agar was called to bowling when the Stars batter seemed to force himself into play.
💚💚#BBL09 pic.twitter.com/ajsevVQpsN
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 22, 2020
Although the 22-year-old was overthrown by Glenn Maxwell for four and six, he claimed to have the vital gates of Maxwell and Nick Larkin. He could also have added star captain Peter Handscomb, but for a tight lbw call, and ended his four-over spell with 2-30.
The orthodox spinner of the left arm, Clint Hinchliffe, would like to have staged the stars Adam Zampa, Sandeep Lamichhane, and Glenn Maxwell. However, the 23-year-old stole the limelight when he got into the spin-based attack immediately after the power game.
The Golden Bat is outta here! Phil Salt hangs onto a superb catch! #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/pdwoVuvVsJ
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 22, 2020
Within three overs, he fired Adelaide Strikers’ three greats – Travis Head, Jake Weatherald and Alex Carey – to pick the best bowling figures in his BBL career in eleven games (3:19 out of three overs).
After the death of his close friend, former Australian and Victoria women’s cricket representative, Tammy Foster, Glenn Maxwell waived the captaincy, which was taken over by his high-ranking teammate Peter Handscomb. But Maxwell’s influence remained as strong as ever from the moment he took the ball for the second time.
He claimed Phil Salt’s decisive wicket after the striker’s opening streak had crossed four consecutive boundaries by Seamer Daniel Worrall and ended 1:19 of his four overs. Then he threatened to take the bat game and cross a line and a six from consecutive deliveries before putting 19 of 16 balls in additional cover.
Since Maxwell had resigned from his managerial role in dire circumstances, Peter Handscomb entered the role with the Australian ODI men’s team only one day after leaving India. Handscomb showed signs that he had played little cricket in the past few weeks, but when the stars faced an almost hopeless task, he hit his groove to blow up 41 of his last 16 balls and land on 65 unbeaten.
If Adelaide wanted to successfully defend his 162, he would have to fire the tournament’s leading shooter and outstanding batsman, Marcus Stoinis, before he could do significant damage.
Four fours in a row!
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 22, 2020
Salt is licking his lips at Worrall's bowling! #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/8oiwKN6iO8
When Stoinis (five) failed an attempt to throw over a square leg, the ball hung in the night sky along with the home team’s early hopes. Phil Salt threw himself back from his position in the middle of the inner circle and covered about 25m in the full sprint before clutching the latch that got the crowd going.
With thick clouds and cool conditions that Bowler seemed to prefer, Adelaide’s opening pair in the first two overs were almost impossible to score against the spin and seam of the stars, resulting in only five runs. But as third (from swing bowler Daniel Worrall) the British importer Phil Salt decided that something was to be given and he went to the limit to book four fours in a row – all on the legs – to the innings of To give Strikers the pulse.
Adelaide chose the pacemaker Liam O’Connor, who did without the fast Billy Stanlake. But it was clear from the start that a lack of pace on the ball played a key role. With four specialized spinners in their lineup – including Maxwell, who shared the new ball – the stars were able to exert decisive pressure and claim early gates.
The stars even decided to hire part-time spinner Nic Maddinson for an over, with the Quicks sending out only a quarter of the stars’ 20 over allocation. It was the first time in BBL history that a team underwent 15 spins.
