Match Center

That's it from a long day then! It was a tiring double-header day with the Sydney Thunder thumping the Hobart Hurricanes and later, the Heat prevailing over the Stars in a rain-hit encounter. Friday, 8th January, 2021, sees the Adelaide Strikers host the Melbourne Renegades at the Adelaide Oval. The action begins at 5.40 pm local (0710 GMT). Do tune in. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

CHRIS LYNN IS NAMED AS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Lynn says that it was a bit tricky batting there but happy that they went over the line. Admits that rain-effected games are tricky but they all have played enough cricket to gain experience from the past. Says that he just tried to use all that and capitalize on the same. Agrees that he too, wanted to bowl first and with the ball getting wet, he saw the Stars finding it difficult but is happy with the eventual result. On his batting, he says that he just tried to keep it simple and see the ball and hit the ball. Is happy with his team overall, adding that they have started to click as a unit. Admits that they haven't been good in the field this year but this game's efforts should set the standard for the rest of the tournament for them. On Max Bryant, Lynn is excited to see the young kid play but wants him to go further. Is happy with the Heat's first win at Metricon and hopes to keep the momentum ahead after a bit of a break. (HEAT next play on Sunday).

Not a bowler's game! For sure. If you look at the economy rates of the bowlers, you would not even want to be a bowler in such matches. And hence, Adam Zampa's 2/7 stands out in the entire contest. For the Heat, Mark Steketee's 3-fer gives him a boost in the wicket-taking category but all of those generally come with the batsmen looking to attack every ball.

Even if you are a fan of T10 cricket, a target of 129 in 10 overs is just too much for the taking. The Stars came out, looking to go hammer and tongs but found no momentum whatsoever. Only Marcus Stoinis got going but he too, fell with the pressure mounting. Towards the end, Nick Larkin enjoyed himself a bit.

It was a toss which Glenn Maxwell would have wanted to win and he did. He had the Heat fly off in the first few overs but then, Adam Zampa got the Stars back in the game. However, in a start-stop game, the bowlers found it difficult to get into rhythm and in the last two overs, the Stars were very sloppy. Bryant and Lynn set the tone early on while Joe Burns wrapped things up nicely at the end.

A bit of a drama to end a longggggggggg game. There was a bit of a delay to check whether the catch was legal, but it would not have impacted the result in any manner. The Heat powered the Stars out of this game in practically 2 overs. The last 2 overs of the Heat's batting yielded 42 runs. That boosted the total which helped them in the DLS sheet as well.

NOT OUT! Well, no trophy catch for Wildermuth there. But still, this has been a phenomenal performance from Brisbane Heat. They take all the 4 points on offer. Full length delivery around the off pole line, Seb Gotch cleared his front leg and looked to muscle that over mid off. But he ends up hitting it uppishly towards the fielder, Jack Wildermuth, there. Jack dives forward and takes it. Everyone celebrates. Would not have mattered in terms of the result but the umpires still want to have a look. The replays are in and the on-air commentators though, reckon, it was a clean catch. But, hang on, multiple replays are in, with the zoom angle. And hmm.... looks like the ball popped out of Wildermuth's fingers and touched the ground as he completed the catch. So, Not Out that will be but still, it does not matter. BRISBANE HEAT WIN BY 18 RUNS (DLS METHOD).

Full and around the off pole, Nick mistimes his slog through the mid-wicket carpet. Gets just the one.

High full toss, on off, swung down to long on, for one. Not signalled a No Ball.

Full and on off and middle, Nick Larkin swings it down to deep mid-wicket. Just the single.

Yorker length delivery outside off, well executed. Larkin looks to jam it out but misses that one. 22 runs needed in 4 balls now.

Shortish and on the pads, Seb looks to swing across the line but misses that one. Gets hit on the body but manages to squeeze in a quick leg bye. Nick gets on strike now. 22 needed in 5 balls.

Xavier Bartlett to bowl the last over. 23 runs needed off it.

FOUR! This is brilliant batting. Short and outside off, Nick throws his bat at it and manages it get it over the 2 fielders in the point region. Can Larkin see his side home, in the last over? He has been brilliant so far.

Short and outside off, Nick backs away and taps it in front of point. Manages to pick up a couple. Good running.

SIX! This one though is a bad ball. Fullish and around off, Nick Larkin pummels that well over long on for a biggie.

NO BALL! Ooops... Lewis has overstepped here. Free Hit coming up. The ball though was good. Full and down the leg side, Nick looks to work it to the leg side but the ball goes between his legs, to the keeper.

FOUR! This is a super shot. Full length delivery outside the off stump, Larkin clobbers that through the covers for a boundary.