Thommo’s takes: SC BBL14 Round 8 wrap up

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. 

It was a very high scoring round where many Hurricanes on the double delivered for our sides!

Embed from Getty Images

Thunder vs Scorchers 

Result: Thunder won by 61 runs

Takes:

*Mass changes for both sides. For the away side Beardman made his BBL debut and Lance Morris was back. The outs were Richo and Tye. For the light green team, Agar, Dan Christian and Davies were omitted, replaced by Tanveer, Weibgen and McAndrew.

*Chris Green. The role was there yet again and the points were back in a big way (he must love playing the Scorchers after posting big SC scores against them both times this tournament). Quickish 20, a run out, 3 wickets in a tidy spell meaning 154 SC points. Ironically, he was one of the most traded out players this round after a couple of quieter outings.

*Not to be overshadowed, Tom Andrews was the only player who could hit them off the turning pitch out at Homebush. 37 not out off just 13 balls to create which was ultimately the match winning momentum for the Thunder. Tidy 3 overs too (1/20) and he had his first SC century!

*All spinners earned points with Agar and Cooper finishing with SC scores north of 60 and Tanveer earning 50 SC points.

*The Wild Thing was not economical but did his job to be a wicket taker with 3/43 off his 4 overs.

*Konstas was good early, he just didn’t get enough strike and finished with 68 SC points. 

*5^th bowler options shared between Spoors and Beardman in this one on the spin friendly deck. No overs for Hardie still. 

Embed from Getty Images

Hurricanes vs Renegades

Result: Hurricanes won by 4 wickets 

Takes:

*Renegades with one change. Stow on debut replacing Kane Richo. Spin in for pace. Two changes for the Hurricanes. Jewell and a popular loop Doran were in. Outs were McDermott with a hammy and Chris Jordan who had back spasms.

*Bethell goes big! 87 off just 50 balls and 2/29 off his 3 overs (a good comeback after a very expensive and wicketless first over!) 170 SC points to showcase his true potential away from decks like Marvel. 

*Owen did it all. Some bonus bowling (and a wicket!) after the unfortunate injury to Big Billy Stanlake. Catches and a run out and a quick fire score above 20 leading to 114 SC points. Great VC score!

*In fact Meredith, Chaudhary, Wade and Ellis all posted reasonable scores that VC or Cs would have been fairly pleased with. Meredith with 3 wickets to be the best bowler for the Canes. Nikhil with 3 tidy overs and some middle order runs (batting at number 4 with no McDermott). Wade moving down to 6, but taking advantage of the power surge. Ellis with a wicket and a bonus run out to elevate his score. 

*Chief and Tom Rogers with reasonable SC floor scores in the 40s.

*Gades batters just not getting it done unfortunately. Brown, Harris and JFM cannot get that big score to help them post a big total. 

*Tim David doing owners a big favour by getting past that majestic 20 run mark to activate his strike rate bonus, even though Wade took his role of increasing the run rate during the power surge. Like Owen, he also got a couple of bonus overs too! Not sure we will see it next game, but if we do it will be an unexpected bonus for those that did trade him in. 

Embed from Getty Images

Strikers vs Sixers

Result: Sixers won by 3 wickets. 

Takes:

*It was built (in the SC world anyway) as the battle of the big expensive guns. Short vs Smith. The points, like the result of the game) went the way of the team in magenta. 87 SC points to 16 SC points. In promising signs for perhaps future owners (or indeed current ones moving forward!) Short did roll his arm over for the first time in a while.

*Sneaky changes for both sides. Shaw (a loop for some) and Chohan in for Patterson and Davies. Shaw was important for the side with the bat and was memorable in the field. 62 SC points, he was very playable if you missed the news! His inclusion meant back up to number 3 for Jack Edwards. No real runs (most SC points from his 3 tidy overs and 2 wickets) but he is back in a mint SC role!

*On the Adelaide side of things. Lynn and Haskett were out for Thornton and another looper in the community in Harry Manenti. I hope people looped with Stars players on the bye and didn’t get caught out.

*Overton in his last game showed the value of role. A quick fire score above 20 runs and 2 wickets helping him to a SC century. One of the only international players to be a consistent and good SC scorer.

*Speaking of allrounders, surely we need to recategorise Benny Dwarshuis next year! Not his greatest night with the ball, 1/38 but 30 off 23 to help get the Sixers home.

*Speaking of not the greatest bowling performance, a rare off night with the ball for Abbott. 0/59 off 4 overs!

*I know it was because of match ups and short boundaries, but Toddy Murphy probably stiff to get 1 over in. 2/2 is not bad going!

*Pope (Ollie) with his best BBL outing. 82 SC points.

*Kerr guiding the Sixers home, activating the strike rate bonus in the process after bowling his 4 overs yet again. A sneaky option who has averaged over 45 SC points an outing when the Sixers double began that was around $100,000 with BAT/BWL flexibility. 

Embed from Getty Images

Heat vs Hurricanes

Result: Hurricanes won by 5 wickets

Takes:

*Aussie test players back for the Heat who had a very strong side on paper. Usman and Marnus back for Wood and Munro. Changes for the side in purple too with Stanlake out and Mr Bean making his debut.

*Ellis proving the value of death overs. Two wickets in the 20^th and 3/42 from his 4 overs.

*Overs again for Owen. 1/20 off his 3 overs. He very well could be an all-rounder for the final round if the Hurricanes keep a similar team or rest players if the result of their final game won’t impact standings. His clean striking was evident as he got the Hurricanes off to a flyer with 44 off just 20 balls. 105 SC points in another great outing.

*Nikhil making runs and bowling some overs. 55 SC points in another solid performance.

*Jewell with his finest performance of the tournament. Making runs in a great opening stand for the Hurricanes and finishing with 116 SC points.

*Marnus back with a bang! 112 SC points batting at number 3. Not a trade in however as he was only playing this game for the Heat.

*A quiet night for Neser who still has a plumb SC role. Only 9 points after 4 wicketless overs and only facing a few deliveries at the end of the Heat innings.

*Renshaw, Alsop and Usman all activating strike rate bonuses for the Heat. I can’t believe they could defend 200 with their bowling attack!

*Spencer the clear pick of the Heat bowlers. 3 wickets and 93 SC points. He should enjoy bowling at Marvel next round one would imagine!