The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
We will hope for the Matt Short shot making hangover to stay around a while as we call it quits for today. This is Dwaipayan Mukherjee, who got you all the action alongside the tireless Pragadeesh, signing off!
Brisbane Heat just snuck into the 5th spot last year and made a run right till the final of this showpiece event. Strikers can do it too! If Short finds ways to continue in the manner that he has, no bowling attack in the world would suffice. Join us for the next bit of action from Big Bash as the Melbourne Stars host the Hobart Hurricanes at the G tomorrow!
Lloyd Pope (Man of the Match) - Matt Short has been outstanding for us and his performances speak for themselves and he also bowls up front. He has a lot of clarity and it has been important for us. It all seems like a blur for me but he gave a call and asked me whether I would play. It's nice being familiar with the boys and I like playing here. I'm just hoping that we win in the finals and it would be great. "
Adelaide Strikers (144/1 in 16.1 overs) defeat Sydney Thunder by 9 wickets
Matt Short - 74* (49) | Jake Weatherald - 47* (31) Tanveer Sangha - 1/27 | Oliver Davies - 0/18
It has been a dominant show from the Adelaide Strikers and they storm into the BBL finals. After losing the toss and having been asked to field, their bowlers kept troubling the Thunder batters. Pope and Overton displayed how lethal they can be with the ball for the Strikers, taking a 4-fer and 3-fer respectively.
There was expectation that the home side will make life difficult for the visitors on this slow and low surface but it wasn’t to be. Matt Short made a mockery of another chase and how many times have we said this over the last 25 days?
It was about as good as it can possibly get for a side playing a must win match and this is a clear statement of intent for the other sides who have already qualified.
However, that being said, there is plenty of room to catch the rest of the Adelaide Strikers batting group cold if Short departs cheaply. That would primarily be the focus of discussion for strategy meetings in all opposition camps.
16.1 Liam Hatcher to Matthew Short, FOUR LEG BYES! ADELAIDE STRIKERS ARE THROUGH TO THE BBL FINALS! Matt Short played a captain's knock and steered his side home comfortably. Pitched up angling in, Short tries to glance this but the ball ricochets off his pads and rolls wide of the keeper
Scores are level!
16.1 Liam Hatcher to Matthew Short, WIDE! Fuller delivery and it's sliding down leg. The scores are level
2 runs needed from 24 balls! Matt Short is on 74, Weatherald is on 47, who will hit the winning runs? That's the only debate left!
16
overs
139/1score
1
3
1
1wd
0
0
4
runs
Jake Weatherald*
47(31)
Matthew Short
74(48)
Oliver Davies
0/18
15.6 Oliver Davies to Jake Weatherald, FOUR! Gives room and slices the length delivery over the in-field on the off-side. The fielder gives a chase but the ball wins the race
15.5 Oliver Davies to Jake Weatherald, attacks the leg-stump from a good length, turned to short mid-wicket
15.4 Oliver Davies to Jake Weatherald, quicker on a good length outside off, Weatherald cuts and misses
15.4 Oliver Davies to Jake Weatherald, WIDE! Flighted delivery and it's sliding down leg
15.3 Oliver Davies to Matthew Short, spears it full across off, driven down to long-off for a run
15.2 Oliver Davies to Jake Weatherald, tossed up delivery outside off-stump, Weatherald slices it over backward point. Hatcher runs to his right, dives and pulls the ball back in play. They take three runs
15.1 Oliver Davies to Matthew Short, skips down the track and drives the low full toss down to long-on for a single
12 runs needed from 30 balls! Strikers are happy to nudge it around with singles and dooubles. With less than 2 and a half runs being the asking rate, it is very possible for this match to reach it's conclusion within the next couple of overs, if not earlier!
15
overs
129/1score
1
2
1
2
1
2
runs
Jake Weatherald*
40(27)
Matthew Short
72(46)
Daniel Sams
0/22
14.6 Daniel Sams to Jake Weatherald, off-pace delivery outside off, heaved to the right of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs
14.5 Daniel Sams to Matthew Short, off-pace delivery angling across off-stump, Short chops it down to deep cover for a single