Thommo’s Takes: Round 4 SuperCoach BBL recap

Welcome to our review article at SC Playbook where we review the action from the previous round and see what impact it had on our side and what we can learn from it.

There’s forecast to be some rain about for a few games this week which we’ll have to keep an eye out for.

Hopefully that trend does not continue.

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Heat vs Thunder

Result: Heat won by 15 runs

Takes:

• Heat were unchanged. One change for the Thunder. Sandhu in for his first game so far replacing Hatcher.
• Daniel Sams. That is all.
• Only 2 overs again for McAndrew.
• 3 overs again for Tanveer as well as Gurinder. Luckily they both captured a wicket. They may bowl more next match at home if conditions suit but the fact they didn’t bowl their max overs is worth noting.
• Zaman Khan again handy. 2/33.
• A typical Chris green performance in game 1. A wicket and a reasonable economy rate. No runs however this time as he came in at number 8 like he has done the last couple of matches.

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• McSweeney was the dominant bat for the Heat. There were nice cameos from Brown and Billings. No overs for McSweeney as has been the case this tournament but a great knock with 73 runs off 52 balls saw him score well.
• Not a great outing for Tall Paul Walter for people like me who traded him in. He couldn’t provide some late innings fireworks, but he will get more opportunities in other matches. He had one very expensive over to begin with but in a great sign for owners he went on to bowl another two overs including a power surge over.
• There was 1 wicketless over and a low batting position at 8 for Michael Neser. He will be very cheap and perhaps the number one target for next year’s Supercoach!
• It was a great team bowling effort from the Heat as they pegged back the Thunder who started very well. Johnson, Bartlett, Swepson and Kuhnemann were all very good and showed they could be trade in targets when the Heat’s next double comes around.
• Hales and Bancroft were the best batters for the Thunder. Hales also had a ball magnet in the field to earn some extra and unexpected SC points. 46 runs for Bancroft and 28 for Hales who started slow after an uncomfortable delivery from Johnson! Owners would be satisfied with Davies too as he made 23 off 16 balls as the Thunder were chasing quick runs after losing momentum.

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Hurricanes vs Stars

Result: Hurricanes won by 7 wickets

Takes:

• No changes for either side. Still no Ben McDermott for those that have him like me. Again Mac Wright was more than solid in the number 3 spot.
• Rain shortened the match in the second innings. Ignore any batting order positions for Stars.
• The Big Show was back. 150 SC points for Maxy. 3/29 off 4 overs and 35 not out off 18 balls. A few swings and misses with the bat but he was back bowling which is very important ahead of a looming double game week.
• One largely ineffective over for both Stoinis and Webster as the unpredictability continues. A big team list watch before the next game to see who replaces Mir and Rauf. Team lists announced before the toss will give a great indication if we can expect more bowling from these two.

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• Imad Wasim was tidy with 1/16 off 3 overs. He’s batting around the 7 mark and should get 4 overs when the Pakistan duo depart. He’s a fresh option for the Stars next double.
• Another average batting performance from the Hurricanes, especially from the middle order. Bowlers against Hobart look like a decent match up moving forward.
• Nathan Ellis needs to be batting higher than 10.
• It was a great first over from Meredith to dismiss the players listed below.
• Sam Harper batting…. Marcus Stoinis batting… Frustrating for owners. Hopefully the double game is worth the wait for these two.

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Renegades vs Strikers

Result: Renegades won by 4 wickets

Takes:

• An unchanged line up for the Strikers. Big calls and decisions made for the Renegades but the proof was in the pudding, recording their first W for the tournament. Captain Maddo was out and replaced by Harvey. The gun fielder has seemed to spend a lot of time on field this BBL, considering this is his first official game. Richo was out with a small niggle, replaced by the veteran Siddle. Finch was also available to play but not selected.
• Joe Clarke retired hurt twice during the match with some sort of leg concern that should keep him out for some time.
• JFM. Typical Supercoach. Does nothing in a double but goes bang on a pitch that some batters found difficult on a single game! Some people played him after initial loops failed and they were rewarded! 70 off 37. Yes he had some luck, getting dropped and a couple of streaky shots but that is BBL in a nut shell!
• JFM was epic and so was Shaun Marsh. Followed up his form from game 1 with another fine knock. 54 off 33 balls and almost finishing the job with a not out innings.
• Overton won the English all-rounder debate this week. Role was as we expected and he produced another fine SC performance with bat and ball. 89 SC points. Personally I boosted Kane Richo to him and I am satisfied with that trade in.
• One of my other trade ins this week was Quinton de Kock after Harper failed in the Stars game. A cheeky run out gave him some nice points (and his only points) after he somehow got bat on a wayward Payne delivery to register a golden duck. BBL Supercoach ey…..

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• Mujeeb was the pick of the Renegades (any bowler actually) as he took advantage on the Marvel deck taking 3 wickets and 101 SC points.
• An uncharacteristically quiet night for Matt Short. 10 SC points when he couldn’t get it together. After all the joy he has bought us, he is allowed a subdued performance!
• Payne’s figures look decent enough on paper with 3/37 but we need to remember one of these wickets was QDK which was very lucky and the other two were captured at the end when the game was over. It was a cracking yorker to dismiss Marsh though!
• Bazley had a slight role change. Being the 7^th bowler to be called upon is not ideal, but when he did, he was probably their best bowler. 1/21 off 3 overs and almost captured another. Let’s see if he bowls overs again next match before their double game week.
• Short of the D’Arcy variety with a very interesting but overall encouraging performance. Scratchy early on (for a while actually) but grinded away and finished with a great score of 54 off 47 deliveries. He bowled one over and that might be his last for the tournament after some JFM force! 65 SC points will keep that price increasing though.
• Nielsen. To finish I’m giving some love to Harry. Very tidy behind the stumps with some sticky hands. Awesome cameo to finish with 17 off 5. Never SC relevant but kudos to him!

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Thunder vs Sixers

Result: No result

Takes:

• Changes for both sides for the Sydney Smash. Murphy and Patterson in for the Sixes. Out were O’Keefe and Hughes. Hatcher and Kohler-Cadmore in for the Thunder. Out were Khan and Sangha (Jason). Bancroft kept the gloves for the Thunder.
• Maxy Bryden would be happy. His favourite Jack Edwards had a night out. 3/24 off 4 overs in his best BBL bowling performance.
• Abbott was expensive with 1/47 off his 4 overs as Alex Ross took full advantages during the power surge.
• There was one cheeky over from Mo Henriques.
• Ross was the best batter for the Thunder, while Hales owners would be happy that he passed the magical 20 run mark.
• Sams earned some extra points with the bat, making 30 off 25. No bowling points in the game as the rain came.

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