ADELAIDE Strikers notched their first win of the Big Bash League (BBL) season after a pair of unlikely heroes stood up in either innings. The home side won by 15 runs at Adelaide Oval, successfully defending their 6-165 and consigning the Melbourne Stars to a 0-3 record.

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D’Arcy Short, who came in as a late replacement for Chris Lynn (calf soreness), dealt in boundaries with eight fours and two sixes in a crucial innings of 60 (42) at first drop. The 34-year-old rode his luck early but brought up his 100th BBL maximum along the way to make his recall count.

It was Lloyd Pope who took out Player of the Match honours, though, after claiming 3-21 in his four overs. The leg-spinner’s efforts marked a terrific turnaround from last game, where he conceded 31 runs off the 19th over, taking the 18th this time and helping seal the win with 1-6.

Along with Short’s inclusion, there were changes aplenty across the two sides. Melbourne welcomed back star allrounder Glenn Maxwell, while English dynamo Ben Duckett opened the batting and Doug Warren debuted. Ollie Pope also came in for his first game in Strikers colours.

The Strikers were sent in to bat and lost skipper Matt Short in the Power Play, with he and opening partner Jake Weatherald both departing for 11. Weatherald would later suffer back spasms and did not take the field during the bowling innings.

With D’Arcy Short ticking the score over with his rope-finding ability, he notched up his 23rd BBL 50 in 33 balls after drinks, but that’s where the run rate began to dry up. Having been up around 10-per-over at one stage, it dropped to 7.5 and forced the Strikers into the Power Surge.

A brief scoring spike ensued off Tom Curran‘s over, but wily veteran Peter Siddle (2-21) struck back to remove the set batsman, Short, as Duckett took a one-handed screamer in the covers. Alex Ross helped pick up the pieces with 35 off 26 balls, guiding Adelaide to a respectable total.

In response, while Duckett was trapped in front by Matt Short for a golden duck in the opening over, Sam Harper (48 off 44) and captain Marcus Stoinis (27 off 19) helped pick up the pieces. Wickets fell all too regularly though, as the Stars fell from 1-45 to 5-85 in the space of six overs.

Curran (25 off 22) added some handy late runs, but with the Stars needing 41 off the last 18 balls as the ball landed in Pope’s hands, it proved far too little, too late. Matt Short (2-23) and Jamie Overton (2-44) joined the leggie in claiming multiple wickets and securing the Strikers’ opening win.

The Strikers next face reigning champions, the Brisbane Heat on Sunday night at the Gabba, in what is a rematch of last season’s Challenger final. The winless Stars can begin to rebuild their season with a Boxing Day trip to Sydney, where the Sixers await.

SCORECARD

RESULT: Strikers won by 15 runs
POTM: Lloyd Pope (Adelaide Strikers)
BAT FLIP: Stars won and elected to bowl

Adelaide Strikers 6-165 (20)
D’Arcy Short 60 (42), Alex Ross 35 (26), James Bazley 16 (13)
Peter Siddle 2-21 (4), Adam Milne 2-32 (4), Glenn Maxwell 1-12 (2)

Melbourne Stars 9-150 (20)
Sam Harper 48 (44), Marcus Stoinis 27 (19), Tom Curran 25 (22)
Lloyd Pope 3-21 (4), Matt Short 2-23 (3), Jamie Overton 2-44 (4)

SQUADS

Adelaide Strikers: Matt Short (c), Jake Weatherald, D’Arcy Short, Ollie Pope (wk), Alex Ross, Jamie Overton, Liam Scott, James Bazley, Henry Thornton, Cameron Boyce, Lloyd Pope

Melbourne Stars: Ben Duckett, Tom Rogers, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis (c), Hilton Cartwright, Beau Webster, Sam Harper (wk), Tom Curran, Doug Warren, Adam Milne, Peter Siddle

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