FRESH off a barnstorming run into last season’s final, the Adelaide Strikers started BBL|14 with a 1-4 record and never properly recovered. Despite being a chance to sneak into the top four until their very last game, the men in blue missed out for the second time in three seasons and finished bottom.

>> STATS RECAP: Scorchers pair complete golden season

BY THE NUMBERS

RECORD: 8th | 3 wins, 7 losses | -0.122 NRR
MOST RUNS: Alex Ross | 256 @ 32.0 | 141.43 SR | 48 HS
MOST WICKETS: Lloyd Pope | 15 @ 21.13 | 9.05 economy | 3-21 BB

RESULTS

LOSS @ Sydney Thunder by 2 wickets
WIN vs. Melbourne Stars by 15 runs
LOSS @ Brisbane Heat by 3 wickets
LOSS vs. Hobart Hurricanes by 11 runs
LOSS vs. Perth Scorchers by 7 wickets
WIN @ Melbourne Renegades by 5 wickets
LOSS @ Hobart Hurricanes by 5 wickets
WIN vs. Brisbane Heat by 56 runs
LOSS vs. Sydney Sixers by 3 wickets
LOSS @ Perth Scorchers by 5 wickets

THE STORY

After a barnstorming run into last season’s finals series, the Strikers never really got going in BBL|14. They lost four of their first five matches after Sydney Thunder snatched victory in their opening bout, setting the tone for a few near misses. Adelaide beat both Melbourne teams and got one back against Brisbane Heat, but lost twice to Hobart Hurricanes and Perth Scorchers. The second defeat to Perth ruled out an unlikely fourth place appearance and instead resigned the Strikers to eighth.

THE HIGHLIGHT

While there were highlights aplenty in Adelaide’s 56-run win over the Heat – including a century to skipper Matt Short en route to 5-251 – the win against the Stars reads better in hindsight. It came in the context of the Strikers dropping their first game in an almighty choke, with spinner and leading wicket taker Lloyd Pope (3-21) gaining redemption just days later. His feats helped Adelaide defend 6-165, pinning their star-studded opponents to 9-150 in front of a vocal home crowd at Adelaide Oval.

THE LOWLIGHT

The Scorchers proved a thorn in the Strikers’ side this season, handing them their heftiest loss on wickets (seven) before eliminating them from the finals race. Back on New Year’s Eve, Perth chased down the hosts’ 8-142 in under 15 overs at Adelaide Oval. They had fallen to 6-35 and 8-58 before Brendan Doggett (47* off 39) and Cameron Boyce (29* off 22) wagged the tail. Perth completed the chase with seven wickets and 33 balls to spare, handing the Strikers a 1-4 record.

THE STAR

It has to be import allrounder, Jamie Overton. The Englishman, who is currently donning national colours in a T20 series against India, finished top four in Adelaide’s runs and wickets tallies in BBL|14. He played nine of 10 games, bolstering the lower order with handy runs at a strike rate of 156.55 across seven not out scores in nine digs. His 11 wickets came at a cost of 9.63 runs per over but included crucial Power Surge overs, and his teammates could have done worse than to adopt his competitive streak.

TOP KNOCK

Matt Short – 109 (54) vs. Brisbane Heat @ Adelaide Oval

Coming off consecutive Player of the Tournament nods, captain Matthew Short had a relatively subdued campaign but came to life against the Heat on January 11. He blasted 109 off just 54 balls, reaching triple-figures in just 49 deliveries to post the fastest-ever ton by a Striker. His knock, which came after missing three games with a toe injury, set up Adelaide’s whopping 5-251 total which was successfully defended. Suffice to say, it brought the Adelaide Oval crowd some hope in what was a stuttering season.

BEST BOWLING

D’Arcy Short – 4-15 (3) vs. Brisbane Heat @ Adelaide Oval

In the same match as Matt Short’s stunning century, D’Arcy ensured the Heat would pull up short of the mammoth 252-run requirement. Perhaps buoyed by an unbeaten 16 off 10 batting down at number seven, the part-time spinner heaped on pressure during the middle overs and managed a double breakthrough in the 15th to dismiss Max Bryant (18) and Colin Munro (0). His three-over spell included nine dot balls and just one boundary, while making up most of his six wickets for the tournament.

CONTRACT STATUS’

SIGNED: Cameron Boyce, Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Thomas Kelly, Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Alex Ross, Matt Short, Henry Thornton

FREE AGENTS: James Bazley, Brendan Doggett, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, D’Arcy Short, Jake Weatherald

UNCONTRACTED: Fabian Allen, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Liam Haskett, Harry Manenti, Liam Scott