BBL2012: It's Lasith Malinga show as Melbourne Stars win by 10 wickets

By Nadene Smith

SYDNEY, Australia (TheSportsNEXT) December 12, 2012: Despite of inclement weather conditions halting the KFC Big Bash League action at Western Australian Cricket Association Ground in Perth on Wednesday the Melbourne Stars punished the Perth Scorchers by 10 wickets on Duckworth/Lewis Method.

Man of the Match, Lasith Malinga, produced a spell of his lifetime - the second best in the history of Twenty20 cricket - to dismantle the Perth Scorchers who were put into bat after Melbourne Stars skipper Shane Warne won the toss and decided to bat first.

Perth Scorchers were bowled out for mere 69 runs from 15.2 overs with only two of their batsmen scoring in double figures.

The damage was done by pacers who used the short ball to great effect at WACA Ground which is renowned for its assistance to the pacers.

Lasith Malinga was seriously exceptional as he took six wickets for just seven runs from his four overs of which one was maiden over. James Faulkner was also incredible with the new ball as he finished with figures of two for 16 from his four. Clint McKay was the only Stars bowler who was belted for runs as he leaked away 28 runs from his three overs. Skipper Shane Warne also delivered three overs and got one wicket for nine runs but without bowling his mystery Disco Ball.

In reply, Melbourne Stars opening batsmen looked in a hurry as Rob Quiney (1 not out from 1) and Luke Wright (23 not out from 11 – 4 fours, 1 six) took the Perth Scorchers bowlers by the horns and made full use of a drop catch by skipper Simon Katich.

The Melbourne Stars raced to 29 for no loss from just two overs before rain played the spoilsport and halted the game.

However, the Melbourne Stars got full purchase out of their super performance as the match officials reduced the game to five overs a side and when the teams returned to the ground the target for Melbourne Stars was only six runs which they had already passed and all they needed was a ball to be delivered and the game was called an official affair.

This was a strong performance by the Melbourne Stars after they were belted hard in their opening game of the Big Bash League 2012.

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BBL2012: Time to find out Warnie Disco Ball

By Nadene Smith

SYDNEY, Australia (TheSportsNEXT) December 12, 2012: Legendary Australian legspinner Shane Warne is all set to give his Disco Ball another go on Wednesday when his side Melbourne Stars take on the Perth Scorchers in the KFC Big Bash League match at Western Australia Cricket Association Ground in Perth.

Shane Warne had a torrid time in his first outing in the KFC Big Bash League 2012, a Melbourne Derby, where he was belted for 41 runs from his 12 deliveries and he didn’t deliver that mystery Disco Ball in those two overs.

Today, he has the chance to try his newly-built mystery delivery against Perth Scorchers who also lost their first match of the competition to Adelaide Strikers on December 9, 2012.

As per the latest updates, the Shane Warne’s Melbourne Stars have won the toss and the legendary leggie has decided to field first.

Melbourne Stars squad includes, Shane Warne (captain), James Faulkner, Peter Handscomb (wk), Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Clint McKay, Lasith Malinga, Glenn Maxwell, Rob Quiney, Cameron White, Luke Wright, Scott Henry, John Hastings, Clive Rose, Jackson Bird, and Alex Keath.

Perth Scorchers squad includes Herschelle Gibbs, Hilton Cartwright, Adam Voges, Simon Katich (captain), Marcus North, Tom Triffitt (wk), Nathan Counter-Nile, Marcus Stoinis, Joe Mennie, Michael Beer, Brad Hogg, Ben Edmondson, Alfonso Thomas, Ashton Agar, Shaun Marsh, Tim Armstrong, and Jason Behrendorff.

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CLT20: Auckland Aces crash out, Titans complete SF line-up

By Sheriff Michaels

The Journey Ends for Auckland Aces after Sterling Show at CLT2012

CENTURION, South Africa (TheSportsNEXT) October 23, 2012: Perth Scorchers registered their first victory at the Champions League Twenty20 2012 on Tuesday when they kicked Auckland Aces out of the competition with a 16-run victory at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.

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The Auckland Aces needed to win this match to stay alive in the competition and they might have got a great chance because the other match of the day between Delhi Daredevils and Nashua Titans was washed out after the toss.

Delhi Daredevils and Nahua Titans qualified into the Semi-Finals of the Champions League Twenty20 2012 from Group A while Sydney Sixers and Highveld Lions joined them from Group B.

First Semi-Final will be played between Delhi Daredevils and Highveld Lions on October 25 at Kingsmead in Durban while Sydney Sixers will take on Nashua Titans in the second Semi-Final scheduled for October 26 at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

Final of the Champions League Twenty20 2012 will be played on October 28 at Johannesburg.

Perth Scorchers skipper Marcus North won the toss and decided to bat first. Auckland Aces would also have loved to bat first to register a thumping victory over the BigBashLeague side but it wasn’t to be the case.

Perth Scorchers scored 140 runs for the loss of seven wickets from their 20 overs before Auckland Aces succumbed to a pressure of their own minds to manage only 124 for eight from their quota of 20 overs, thus falling 16 runs short of the target.

Former South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs (6 from 6 – 1 four) continued to prove a failure on his home ground but skipper Marcus North (37 from 35 – 4 fours, 1 six) and Simon Katich (21 from 23 – 2 fours) undid the early loss with 55 runs partnership for second wicket.

Both batsmen went back in a quick succession but former England captain Paul Collingwood (38 from 27 – 5 fours) and Tom Beaton (22 from 19 – 1 four, 1 six) upped the tempo during second half of the innings and despite of a late collapse the Perth Scorchers managed to score a fighting 140 runs total on the board.

Michael Bates was the standout performer for the Auckland Aces with the ball as he captured four wickets for 34 runs while Kyle Mills was also useful during his miser spell of none for 14 from four overs. Azhar Mahmood also bowled well during his spell of none for 24 from four while Bruce Martin (4-0-25-0) also kept a lid on scoring rate.

Chasing 141 for victory and a possible qualification, the Auckland Aces got off to a worst start by losing hard-hitting Lou Vincent for only two runs.

However, Martin Guptill (36 from 32 – 3 fours, 1 six) and Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood (23 from 21 – 4 fours) resurrected the innings as they slowly picked up the pace to add 49 valuable runs for the second wicket before Guptill lost his mind to gift his wicket away to Michael Beer with wicketkeeper Ronchi taking a useful catch.

Anaru Kitchen (6 from 6 – 1 four) soon departed and when Azhar Mahmood lost his cool and wicket the Auckland Aces were completely rattled as they lacked someone who could steer the innings to an unlikely looking victory.

Colin Munro (23 from 18 – 1 four, 1 six) did his best to rescue the wrecked ship but lacked support from the other end as Colin de Grandhomme (4 from 4), skipper Gareth Hopkins (9 from 12 – 1 four), and Ronnie Hira (2 from 3) all lost their wickets in a bid to up the scoring rate.

In the end, the Auckland Aces could score 124 for eight and were knocked out of the competition.

Michael Beer, who took three wickets for 13 runs from his four overs, was declared Man of the Match while Joe Mennie (4-0-23-2), Nathan Coulter-Nile (4-0-26-0), Ryan Duffield (3-0-17-1), and Brad Hogg (4-0-30-1) all bowled exceedingly well to defend a lower total successfully.

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Kolkata Knight Riders crash out of CLT20

By Sheriff Michaels

Kingsmead Wash-Out knocks Kolkata Knight Riders out of CLT20

DURBAN, South Africa (TheSportsNEXT) October 17, 2012: The Indian Premier League Champions Kolkata Knight Riders became first team to get eliminated from the Champions League Twenty20 2012 on Wednesday when inclement weather made play impossible at Kingsmead in Durban.

The match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Perth Scorchers was washed out only after 14 overs in the first innings where the Big Bash League’s side had scored 91 for two.

Former South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs (Duck) failed for the second straight time to impressive anyone but Shaun Marsh (38 from 40 – 3 fours, 1 six) and Simon Katich (43 not out from 32 – 4 fours) held the innings together.

The duo added 70 runs for the second wicket before Jacques Kallis bowled a superb Yorker to get rid of Shaun Marsh who was replaced by his younger brother Mitchell Marsh (5 not out from 10).

When the match was called off due to rain, the Perth Scorchers had scored 91 for two from 14 overs.

The Kolkata Knight Riders, who have already lost their first two matches, had to win this match and as the match is washed out they are now out of the competition. The IPL6 champions managed to score only one point from three games.

The Indian Premier League champions will played their penultimate game in the CLT2012 against Group A toppers Nashua Titans at Newlands in Cape Town on October 21, 2012.

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