The Adelaide Strikers are one game away from the BBL|13 Final after an unprecedented win over the Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
Given a very little chance by many, the Strikers looked doomed with a somewhat underwhelming 155 runs, 20 below the average of the last ten teams who batted first at Optus Stadium.
However, a masterclass bowling spell from Lloyd Pope and Cameron Boyce reduced the Scorchers to 105 runs, with the pair combining for seven of Adelaide’s wickets.
Jake Weatherald led the Strikers in the first innings with 56 runs from 32 balls, hitting ten boundaries in the process.
“They were all over us (at the start of the game),” Weatherald told Fox Cricket post-game.
“Thankfully I stuck a few runs together, I thought Ben Manenti and Henry Thorton were awesome, it was great.
“(We just) backed our skills a bit more we were sort of just teeing off and seeing what happens, we’ve played on some really great wickets, this was awesome tonight, I love batting here.
“It just came off, other times it won’t but it was good fun.
“We sort of thought (we had enough runs) just because we thought they were a great defending side and we thought they would’ve batted first because they’re not a great chasing side.
“Once we hit 150, I thought we were genuinely in the game.”
The Strikers now head to Brisbane for a clash against the Heat on Monday night, with the winner booking a spot in the final against the Sixers on Wednesday night in Sydney