Adelaide Strikers finally shattered their New Year’s Eve curse, storming to a seven-wicket win over Brisbane Heat at Adelaide Oval, their first victory in the marquee clash since 2018. The win was built on a ruthless bowling display and finished in style by Chris Lynn, who marked his 300th T20 appearance with a breathtaking unbeaten 79 off 41.
Heat’s innings never recovered from a nightmare start as they slumped to 21 for 5 inside six overs. Jamie Overton (3-19), Liam Scott (2-12) and Hasan Ali (2-29) ripped through the top order, before Matthew Kuhnemann’s T20 career-best 31 not out and Hugh Weibgen’s 28 gave the scoreboard some respectability. Even then, 121 felt light, and it proved miles short.
The chase quickly turned into the Chris Lynn show. Despite losing Matt Short (19), Mackenzie Harvey (11) and Jerrssis Wadia (1), Lynn was untouchable. He crashed six fours and six sixes, becoming the first batter to pass 4000 BBL runs, raising the milestone in trademark fashion by depositing Xavier Bartlett into the stands. His fifty arrived from 30 balls, and he capped the night by launching three consecutive sixes off Matthew Kuhnemann to seal the result with 35 balls to spare.
It was also Lynn’s record-extending 32nd BBL half-century, delivered on a stage he has long dominated. For the Strikers, it was sweet revenge after their narrow defeat to Heat at the Gabba just days earlier, and the perfect way to flip the script on a fixture that has haunted them since 2018.
With momentum now restored and their big-match aura rekindled, the Strikers roll into the new year, believing again, thanks largely to one man who still knows better than anyone how to own the night.
