BBL 12, Strikers vs Sixers: Matthew Short masterclass leads Strikers to a thumping win

Rashid Khan celebrating a dismissal [Source: Twitter]

Riding on a sensational knock from Matthew Short and a superb collective bowling effort, Adelaide Strikers annihilated Sydney Sixers by 51 runs in the second match of the Big Bash League 2022-23. The Strikers opened their account in the points table with this convincing win. 

Short stars as Strikers post a mammoth total

Matthew Short hammered a fantastic fifty [Source: Twitter]

After opting to bat first, the Strikers suffered an early setback with Steve O'Keefe removing Jake Weatherald for one in the second over. However, the Sixers' happiness proved short-lived, as Matthew Short and Chris Lynn stitched a counterattacking 95-run stand for the second wicket. 

After Lynn fell prey to Izharulhaq Naveed, Short and Adam Hose added further 53 runs to ensure a defendable total for the Strikers. Although Short got out for an excellent 53-ball 84, Hose (40 off 22) stayed till the final ball, propelling the Strikers to 184 in 20 overs. 

Veteran seamer Sean Abbott starred with the ball for the Sixers, scalping three wickets for 37 runs. Naveed was impressive on debut, claiming two wickets for 25 runs in his four-over spell. 

Sixers crumble like a pack of cards

Henry Thornton dismantled the Sixers [Source: Twitter]

As if chasing 185 against Strikers' potent attack wasn't challenging enough, the Sixers made things tougher for themselves by losing wickets at regular intervals. 

Two pillars of their batting, Kurtis Patterson and James Vince couldn't survive Henry Thornton's new-ball burst, while Josh Philippe and skipper Moises Henriques were deceived to perfection by the spin maestro Rashid Khan. 

However, Jordan Silk and Dan Christian showed some resistance, adding 37 runs for the fourth wicket. But soon after Silk's departure, the Sixers lost their way, finishing at 133 for 7 in 20 overs. 

Rashid weaved his magic for the umpteenth time in a T20, bagging three wickets for 21 runs. Meanwhile, Thornton recorded the best bowling figures in the match, as he picked four wickets for 20 runs. 

Brief Scores

Adelaide Strikers: 184/6 (20)
Matthew Short 84 (53), Chris Lynn 41 (34);
Sean Abbott 3/37 (4), Izharulhaq Naveed 2/25 (4)

Sydney Sixers: 133/7 (20)
Jordan Silk 36 (25), Josh Philippe 26 (23)
Henry Thornton 4/20 (4), Rashid Khan 3/21 (4) 

Adelaide Strikers won by 51 runs. 

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