England batter hits 78 off 47 to put the Strikers to the sword
Brisbane Heat 7 for 208 (Duckett 78, Heazlett 49, Rashid 3-34) beat Adelaide Strikers 8 for 169 (Wells 55, Steketee 3-27) by 39 runs
Duckett top-scored with 78 from just 47 balls as the Heat posted an imposing 7 for 208 at Adelaide Oval. In reply, the Strikers made 8 for 169 and were never in the hunt after losing both opening batters in the initial nine balls.
Rashid was denied his second BBL hat-trick and finished with 3 for 34 but the damage had been done by Duckett and Heazlett, who struck three sixes and three fours.
The pair cashed in after a rapid start – their partnership started at 3 for 74 after seven overs. After winning the toss, the Heat opener Chris Lynn smacked 10 runs from four Wes Agar balls before being caught behind from the fifth when trying to guide to third man.
His replacement Tom Cooper made 16 but also lasted just five balls – he hit two fours and a six from Peter Siddle before the Strikers captain trapped him lbw with an excellent yorker.
The wickets failed to halt the attack of Max Bryant, who steered the visitors to 2 for 64 at the end of the six-over powerplay. But in the next over, his 20-ball knock featuring five fours and a six ended when caught on the midwicket boundary from Rashid’s bowling.
The Heat were 3 for 94 after 10 overs and Duckett and Heazlett then accelerated, reaching a 100-run partnership in just 61 balls.
The run chase stumbled early. Opener Matt Short smacked two sixes from the first two balls, a two from the next, and then feathered an edge to wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson from spinner Matt Kuhnemann.
Wells and Matt Renshaw steadied but after 10 overs the Strikers were 2 for 82 and well off the pace. Renshaw was dismissed in the 12th over and Wells, who hit six fours and a six, was out in the 13th to sap all of the Strikers’ momentum.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo