On Saturday, Mitchell Marsh, who is nowadays being regarded as one of the most promising player Australian cricket has seen lately, lived up to his growing reputation by handing Perth Scorchers an exciting six-wicket win against first-timers Dolphins in their CLT20 encounter at the PCA Stadium.
Mitchell Marsh of Perth Scorchers celecrating his team’s victory against Dolphin at PCA Stadium, Mohali, on Saturday.
Dolphins, who had batted first and recovered from early setbacks to post a defendable total of 164, put Scorchers in a tight corner, with the Australian side requiring 16 runs off the last six balls. The situation became more edgy when it went down to 12 from two balls. But Marsh, whore mained unbeaten with 26-ball 40, maintained his cool, smacking two consecutive sixes, one over midwicket and the other at the sightscreen, to help his side claim near-impossible win.
Earlier in the day, Khaya Zondo helped Dolphins put up a defendable total after their top order failed and the side was reeling at 45 for 4. Zondo fashioned 30-run stand with Darryn Smit (21) for the fifth wicket, and then stitched another fruitful partnership of 44 runs for the seventh wicket with Vaughn van Jaarsveld. Zondo remained undefeated till the end for a 50-ball 63.
Scorchers started the chase with Craig Simmons and skipper Adam Voges, but the two were tied down by parsimonious Kyle Abbott and Robbie Frylinck. Abbott, after troubling Voges for the major part of his stay at the crease, finally got his man, catching him leg-before for seven runs.
Simmons, who was the fastest BBL century to his name, was then joined by wicketkeeper Sam Whiteman, and the two gave Scorchers’ innings much needed momentum by raising 55 runs at a rate of almost 10-per-over. But just when Simmons was looking for a good haul, having notched up 21 runs in his last shots, Delport caught him off his own bowling, for 35-ball 48.
{{/usCountry}}Simmons, who was the fastest BBL century to his name, was then joined by wicketkeeper Sam Whiteman, and the two gave Scorchers’ innings much needed momentum by raising 55 runs at a rate of almost 10-per-over. But just when Simmons was looking for a good haul, having notched up 21 runs in his last shots, Delport caught him off his own bowling, for 35-ball 48.
{{/usCountry}}But the platform had been laid, and it only required Whiteman and next-in Mitchell Marsh to continue the momentum.
However, with Whiteman departing for 45, and 40-plus runs still to be made from the last four overs, Scorchers were in the trouble.
Marsh was now joined by Ashton Agar, and the two got the scoreboard ticking with some lusty blow and quick singles. At this stage,Frylinck and Abbott were again pressed into attack and they did what they had done initially. Abbott gave 10 runs in the 19th over, while Frylinck gave eight in first of the other two he sent down. In the last over, Frylinck removed Agar to put Dolphins in sight of victory. But Marsh’s late assault upstaged the good efforts by the right arm medium pacer. BRIEF SCORES Dolphins 164/7 in 20 overs (K Zondo 63*, J Behrendorff 3/43) vs Perth Scorchers 165/4 in 20 overs (C Simmons 48, S Whiteman 45, M Marsh 40*)