Strikers firm as favorites as they dismiss ‘nothing to lose’ Heat.

The Heat got off to a dynamite start with Lynn racing to 34 off 25 and Jimmy Peirson smashing 51 off 36.  Unfortunately, both batsmen fell with rushes of blood to the head.  Peirson holed out on the boundary after trying to lift Travis Head’s first delivery into the second tier.  He told Macquarie Radio ‘I saw Trav and my eyes lit up’.  Nathan Reardon contributed 40 not out to a final total of 175.

Losing Kane Richardson to Australia ODI duties the Strikers’ bowling honours went to Adil Rashid 2/17. He bowled beautifully picking up valuable wickets of Chris Lynn and Ben Cutting.  Despite Ross dropping a sitter, the fielding on the large ground with a quick outfield was very solid.

Enter Mahela Jayawardena.  His 53 from 30 included pulling a quad muscle which slowed the running but not the scoring. Jayawardena told Macquarie Radio ‘I stayed out in the important 7 overs particularly against the bowling of Badree’. Unable to run he just stood and delivered.  In form batsmen Travis Head added 50 including swatting three sixes in one over before captain Brad Hodge 14 and Tim Ludeman 57 closed out the chase.

Strikers win by 8 wickets   Man of the Match awarded to Mahela Jayawardena