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Bancroft stars as Scorchers thump Heat

By AAP Newswire

Jan 8, 2023

Cameron Bancroft Scorchers' match-winner — Cameron Bancroft takes the plaudits after his 76no guided the Scorchers to a win over Brisbane. -AAP Image

Cameron Bancroft and Aaron Hardie have cracked quick-fire half-centuries to power the Perth Scorchers to a seven-wicket BBL win over the Brisbane Heat at Optus Stadium.

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In reply to the Heat's 9-171 on Saturday night, the Scorchers reached the victory target with 21 balls to spare, courtesy of big knocks from Bancroft (76no off 48 balls) and Hardie (57 off 33 balls).

Bancroft was playing just his third BBL clash of the season after being squeezed out of the side by Faf du Plessis and Adam Lyth for much of the campaign.

But with du Plessis now having joined the South African T20 league and Lyth dropped following a horror run of form, Bancroft looms as a key player in the Scorchers' bid to win back-to-back titles.

Bancroft cracked seven fours and two sixes, combining with Hardie for a 111-run stand that set up the win.

Hardie was brutal with five fours and three sixes before being run out in the 12th over.

The result lifted the Scorchers (6-2) back to the top, with the Heat seventh after posting just two wins from their first eight games.

"It was a lot of fun really," Bancroft told Fox Cricket after his man-of-the-match performance.

"In chases like that you always want to try to start well and see if you can get the run rate down as soon as possible.

"That partnership set ourselves up."

The Heat made a dream start to the match thanks to their departing import Colin Munro.

Munro, who will link up with the new UAE T20 league next week, blasted three fours and three sixes on the way to posting 45 off 26 balls.

The New Zealand blaster combined with Josh Brown (34 off 21 balls) to lift the Heat to 0-81 by midway through the eighth over.

But the Scorchers' attack hit back strongly, with AJ Tye (3-37), Matt Kelly (2-28), and Lance Morris (2-4) sparking a collapse of 9-90.

The Heat only scored 25 from their final four overs, losing three wickets in the last over as their search for quick runs at the death fell flat.

Morris was pummelled for 16 off his first over, but the speed demon bounced back with the scalps of Munro and Jimmy Peirson (23 off 19 balls).

The return of Morris from Test squad duties helped offset the loss of Jhye Richardson, who is set to miss two to three weeks with a hamstring injury.

The Scorchers have been hit hard by injury and withdrawals this season, losing the likes of Mitch Marsh, Cam Green, Laurie Evans, Tymal Mills and Phil Salt for the entire tournament.

"It blows my mind as well," Bancroft said of the team's ability to keep winning despite the setbacks.