Mitchell Marsh delivered another commanding BBL performance, smashing 88 off 51 balls to propel Perth Scorchers to a 32-run win over Adelaide Strikers and lift his side to second on the ladder at the Adelaide Oval. In a match packed with sixes, momentum swings and late drama, Perth’s batting depth once again proved decisive.
Sent in to bat, the Scorchers unleashed a brutal powerplay assault led by Marsh and Finn Allen, who piled on 81 runs inside five overs, including seven sixes from Marsh alone. The visitors reached 232 for 4, their fourth 200-plus total away from home this season, underlining how lethal they have become on faster, truer surfaces compared to the slower Optus Stadium pitch.
While Adelaide’s legspinners Cameron Boyce and Lloyd Pope briefly applied the brakes, Pope removing Allen and Cooper Connolly in successive deliveries, Marsh found a perfect ally in Josh Inglis, who dazzled on return from Ashes duty with 42 off 23 balls. Their 77-run stand restored momentum before Marsh finally holed out late in the innings, leaving Ashton Turner and Aaron Hardie to finish strongly.
Adelaide’s reply was anything but meek. Alex Carey, fresh from international duties, was sublime in a blazing 71 off 39 balls, while skipper Matthew Short hammered 52 off 31, giving the Strikers genuine hope after racing through the powerplay. Carey’s strokeplay down the ground and through cover briefly threatened to make a daunting target achievable.
However, once Short fell and the required rate climbed beyond reach, Perth’s bowlers held their nerve. Carey’s dismissal, a sharp low catch by Turner at cover, proved the turning point, with David Payne and Mahli Beardman expertly mixing pace to close out the innings. Payne finished with 3 for 35, as Adelaide ended on 200 for 8.
The result strengthens Perth’s title credentials, moving them to 5 wins from 8 matches, while Adelaide, now 3-5, face an uphill battle to reach the finals. For the Scorchers, it was another reminder that when Marsh fires, they remain one of the most feared sides in the competition, especially away from home.
