Adelaide Strikers snatched their first win of the season in a tense BBL clash against Melbourne Stars, walking away with a 15-run victory. The match was full of drama, with leg-spinner Lloyd Pope taking 3 wickets for 21 runs, showing major bounce back after a tough opener. D’Arcy Short, who was called up last-minute, blasted a crucial 60 off 42 balls, powering Strikers to 165/6.
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Redemption and Sweet Revenge for Pope
Pope was on fire after a disastrous outing earlier in the season. He took a massive wicket of Sam Harper, the main threat in the Stars’ batting lineup. Alongside him, fellow spinners Cameron Boyce and Matthew Short, both chipped in with vital wickets, keeping the pressure on Stars all through the chase.
Short’s Smash, Stars’ Struggles
D’Arcy Short’s inclusion proved pivotal. Stepping up in style, Short smashed a six and five fours, driving the Strikers’ innings with solid tempo. Unfortunately for the Stars, the momentum didn’t stick. Marcus Stoinis’ cameo (27 off 19) and Glenn Maxwell’s brief spark (15 off 5) weren’t enough to push them over the line. Both got dismissed cheaply, struggling to find a rhythm under the pressure of the Strikers’ spin attack.
Maxwell’s Threat Cut Short
Maxwell made a solid attempt to turn things around with a couple of reverse sweeps for six, but his time in the middle was cut short when Henry Thornton bowled him out with a perfect delivery. Meanwhile, Sam Harper was the one man keeping hope alive for the Stars. His knock of 48 kept them in the hunt, but he was ultimately sent packing by Pope. The rest just couldn’t click.
Top-Notch Spin and Catch of the Century!
One of the craziest moments of the game came when Englishman Ben Duckett pulled off one of the best catches in BBL history. Duckett leaped high and caught D’Arcy Short at extra cover—pure magic. But his night went downhill after that catch, being sent back to the pavilion for a golden duck from the very next ball.
Strikers’ Spin Kings Run Riot
Strikers’ spin trio ruled the roost. Pope’s 3/21 was the highlight, and his redemption arc was complete. Boyce (1/31) and Short (2/23) made sure that the Stars couldn’t build any substantial partnerships. Every time it looked like they might turn things around, the Strikers’ spinners were on top, taking key wickets and choking the batting line-up.
A Game for the Books
It wasn’t a perfect chase for the Stars, who struggled with their big hitters failing to fire. With Pope at the helm and Short stepping up, Strikers delivered a clinical performance, bagging their first win of the season. From a spectacular catch to Pope’s redemption and Short’s all-round brilliance, it was a match full of high-octane moments.
Match Breakdown:
- Adelaide Strikers: 165/6 (D’Arcy Short 60, Alex Ross 35; Siddle 2-21, Milne 2-32)
- Melbourne Stars: 150/9 (Sam Harper 48, Lloyd Pope 3-21, Matthew Short 2-23; Overton 2-44)
- Final Result: Strikers win by 15 runs
