SPORTS DESK
COFFS HARBOUR: In the 42nd match of the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL), Ashton Turner’s magnificent 69 boosted Perth Scorchers to crush Sydney Sixers by 5 wickets.
Turner’s brilliance helped the Scorchers to chase down 152 for the loss of five wickets, with six balls to spare.
Batting first, the Sixers had a decent start to their innings as their openers provided a solid 56-runs stand for the first wicket. The duo of Josh Philippe and Justin Avendano appeared to be in fine touch before the eighth over as Ashton Agar dismissed both the openers in the same over.
Philippe scored 32 off 22 balls, laced with a boundary and three maximums, while Avendano could only score 23 off 22, including two boundaries and a six. Following their departure, the Sixers’ batters went defensive and departed after scoring cheaply.
Dan Christian’s late onslaught, however, guided the side to a commendable total of 151/7 in the allotted 20 overs. Christian scored a quickfire 35 off just 20 balls; smashing four boundaries and a six.
For the Scorchers, Agar starred; picking up two wickets, while Peter Hatzoglou and Matthew Kelly made one scalp each.
Set to chase 152, the Scorchers halted by a poor start; losing three wickets for just 44 runs in the seventh over. Turner and Aaron Hardie, however, played sensibly; recording a valuable 91-runs partnership to anchor the run chase.
In the 17th over, Turner, however, walked back to the pavilion after scoring a magnificent half-century; scoring 69 off 41 balls. He smoked seven boundaries and two sixes. Hardie, on the other hand, dismissed after scoring a valiant 35 off 31 balls.
Their departure caused the Scorchers little to worry as Ashton Agar (4*) and Chrish Sabburg (7*) guided the side to the victory on the last ball of the 19th over.
For the Sixers, Ben Dwarshuis claimed two wickets, while Shadab Khan, Hayden Kerr, and Jackson Bird shared one wicket apiece.
