Rain forces no result as Hurricanes seal playoffs spot
Match 31 of the BBL between the Sydney Sixers and Hobart Hurricanes was abandoned due to persistent rain. The Hurricanes became the first team to qualify for the playoffs after points were shared while the Sixers climbed up a spot to third on the table.
The game marked Steve Smith's return to the BBL following the Ashes and he partnered with Babar Azam to open the innings for the Sixers after they were asked to bat first.
Tight bowling from the Hurricanes mostly kept the celebrated batters in check with the PowerPlay yielding only 25 runs. The Sixers fans did have a couple of moments to cheer though, including Smith's six over deep mid-wicket in the second over and a cover drive from Babar in the fourth.
Only one more over of play was possible after the PowerPlay before unrelenting rain set in over the SCG.
Brief Scores: Sydney Sixers 32/0 in 5 overs (Steve Smith 19*, Babar Azam 9*) vs Hobart Hurricanes - no result.
Mitchell Marsh smashed a 51-ball 88 to power Perth Scorchers to a strong 232 for 4, setting up a comprehensive 32-run victory over the Adelaide Strikers at the Adelaide Oval. The win keeps the Scorchers firmly in playoff contention while leaving the Strikers' campaign hanging by a thread.
After the Strikers won the toss and elected to bowl, they were immediately put to the sword. The Scorchers scored 69 runs off their first four overs, as Marsh and Finn Allen went berserk. Marsh struck another four and six off Lloyd Pope in the fifth over before the legspinner struck back to dismiss Finn Allen and Cooper Connolly off successive deliveries.
However, Marsh found an able ally in Josh Inglis, and the pair rebuilt the innings with a measured partnership. The pair took 26 off the Power Surge before Inglis fell for a crucial 23-ball 42 in the 14th over, before Marsh continued his onslaught alongside Aaron Hardie and Ashton Turner. The Australian skipper's innings featured a blend of power hitting and calculated aggression before he was finally dismissed for 88 in the 17th over with the score at 190 for 4. Hardie and Turner provided the late flourish, guiding the Scorchers to 232.
Chasing a daunting target, the Strikers needed a strong start and the pair of Matt Short and Alex Carey delivered with an important 93-run stand off 7.5 overs. Matthew Short fell for a 31-ball 52 at the end of the eighth over, while the experienced Chris Lynn departed soon after. The Strikers, despite being in the chase for a good portion, collapsed from 161 for 4 to 167 for 8 in the space of 11 deliveries, with Carey falling for a 39-ball 71 in between with that wretched spell effectively ending their chase.
Brief scores:Perth Scorchers 232/4 in 20 overs (Mitchell Marsh 88, Josh Inglis 42; Lloyd Pope 2-36) beat Adelaide Strikers 200/8 in 20 overs (Alex Carey 71, Matt Short 52; David Payne 3-35) by 32 runs
