A flawless spin-bowling performance from Perth Scorchers gave their finals hopes a beating heart, but a lacklustre close-out has left them with a chase on their hands.
Sydney Thunder squeezed 7-158 out of Perth’s spin-heavy attack. Cooper Connolly took 1-16 from four, Ashton Agar finished with 1-14 and Matthew Spoors claimed 1-8 from two.
But their death-bowling woes continued, with Jason Behrendorff taken for 25 in the last over as part of a late flourish from tail-enders Tom Andrews, who made 37 off 13 balls, and Chris Green in a 44-run partnership
Test sensation also made a half-century, before was caught in the deep for 53 off 42 and left his tail to navigate the final overs.
Lance Morris had Konstas caught in the deep for 53 off 42 balls, leaving his tail to navigate four overs.
Konstas faced just 25 of the first 60 balls, despite owning the entire first two overs, and was visibly frustrated with wickets tumbling at the other end.
The Scorchers must win this clash and Saturday’s date with Adelaide Strikers at home to be any chance of squeezing into a fifth consecutive finals series.
Thunder captain David Warner fell for just eight off a Morris delivery that was simply too quick for him.
Morris and teenage debutant Mahli Beardman put on an early pace tirade before the Scorchers’ spin trio were entrusted with the middle overs.
The Thunder went 60 balls without scoring a boundary and at one point, six overs without scoring multiple runs off any ball.
Connolly celebrated the ripping a doosra through Sam Billings’ defence with a bow-and-arrow and Agar shot one through Hugh Wiebgen.
Spoors had left-hand disruptor George Garton caught in the deep on just one for his maiden Big Bash wicket.
Nathan McAndrew landed a ball with Aaron Hardie off the bowling of Behrendorff, who finished with 1-53, while Morris was the best of the quicks with 3-48.
Turner won the toss and elected to bowl, with the Scorchers captain confirming The West Australia’s exclusive report that Beardman would debut.
Jhye Richardson is out after making the call to go for shoulder surgery and Andrew Tye was dropped after taking 0-62 from his four overs in Saturday’s defeat to Sydney Sixers.
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au