Cameron Bancroft and Ashton Agar propel Perth Scorchers to BBL top spot
Sunday 10 January 2016 06:50, UK
Cameron Bancroft struck his maiden Big Bash League fifty as Perth Scorchers moved to the top of the table with a 30-run win over Sydney Thunder.
Bancroft (72) and Ashton Agar (68) shared a fourth-wicket stand of 105 in 8.3 overs as Scorchers recovered from a horror start to post 175-5 off their 20 overs on Thursday.
Andre Russell blasted 42 in a 20-ball innings that featured a 116-metre six in reply but Thunder could not get close as Jason Behrendorff (3-26), Andrew Tye (3-22) and Brad Hogg (2-25) chipped away, the home side finishing on 145-9.
Thunder - without captain Mike Hussey due to a hamstring injury - made a strong start after opting to bowl by reducing the defending champions to 2-1.
Michael Klinger fell lbw third ball to Russell before Marcus Harris chipped a simple return catch back to Clint McKay.
Shaun Marsh led the recovery with Bancroft, hitting Andrew McDonald's second ball for six in the process only to cut the spinner's next delivery to Jacques Kallis at gully.
Agar kept up the momentum and at 98-3 off 14 overs, Scorchers - looking to bounce back from their defeat to Adelaide on Tuesday - had an ideal platform to attack the final overs of the innings.
A total of 71 runs came off the next five overs before Bancroft fell lbw to Russell, looking to work a full ball to fine leg.
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Thunder's top order also struggled - Aiden Blizzard falling lbw to Behrendorff early in the chase, looking to hit to leg, and six balls later Kallis picked out Agar off the same bowler.
When stand-in skipper Shane Watson was bowled by Tye for 18, the stage was set for a blockbusting innings from Russell.
Although the West Indian obliged with five sixes - one of them off Behrendorff falling a metre short of the biggest strike in the competition so far, Dan Christian's 117m hit for Hobart Hurricanes - Scorchers' attack proved too canny.
Our Big Bash League coverage continues with Brisbane Heat against Adelaide Strikers, live on Sky Sports 1 from 8.30am on Friday.
