Perth Scorchers cruise to comfortable win over Brisbane Heat

Reigning champions the Perth Scorchers have opened their BBL05 account with a convincing nine-wicket win over the Brisbane Heat at `The Furnace’.

A crowd of 19,225 settled in on Boxing Day and saw the Scorchers bounce back in style from their opening match loss against Adelaide at the same venue five days ago.

A brilliant bowling performance by the Scorchers helped restrict the Heat to 7-117 from their 20 overs – their lowest total against Perth.

That total could have been far worse had it not been for a lone hand from Heat captain Chris Lynn, who scored an unbeaten 75 from 58 balls with three boundaries and four sixes.

Wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson (10) was the only other batsman to reach double figures as the Heat struggled to get the runs flowing in the middle overs of their innings.

Andrew Tye was the best of the Scorchers’ bowlers, finishing with 3-23 (4) while Jason Behrendorff picked up 2-33 in his return game after a month on the sidelines with a back problem.

English recruit David Willey was named man-of-the match after claiming the tidy figures of 1-15 from his four overs while the evergreen Brad Hogg also finished with 1-14 (4).

The Scorchers run chase was anchored by captain Michael Klinger, who finished unbeaten on 53. The veteran batsman also reclaimed his mantle as the leading overall run scorer in Big Bash League history from Melbourne Renegades captain Aaron Finch.

Marcus Harris got their innings away to a flyer, smashing four boundaries and two sixes in knock of 36 from just 22 balls.

When Harris was dismissed, Ashton Agar earned a promotion to No.3 and finished unbeaten on 24.

The Heat has now lost three games to start BBL05 to virtually extinguish their hopes of a semi-final appearance.

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