Strikers star shares fierce words with batsman over controversial mankad incident – as Scorchers secure victory in South Australia

The Perth Scorchers have finished second on the BBL ladder in 2024 after romping to a seven-wicket win over the Adelaide Strikers on New Year’s Eve.

There was a controversial moment in the second inning when Jamie Overton limped Scorchers batsman Finn Allen.

The latter appeared to step out of his crease as the England bowler ran in to deliver a ball to Cooper Connolly.

But when he realized Allen had stepped three feet outside his crease, Overton removed the bail, but only as a warning.

Overton did not appeal the wicket, but instead turned and exchanged some fierce words with the Scorchers batsman, who was later bowled out by Brendan Doggett for 50.

The pace bowler seemed furious at the batsman backing off a little too early.

The pair appeared to exchange heated words, with Overton pointing his finger at the Scorchers batsman and issuing a warning

Overton did not appeal the wicket after Allen had gone backwards outside his wicket early on

He was then splattered for six by Connolly on the resulting ball.

Had Overton appealed the decision, there was a chance that Allen could have been ruled out as his bat appeared not to have crossed the line when the bails on his stumps were removed.

A record-breaking ninth-wicket stand between tailenders Brendan Doggett (47no) and Cameron Boyce (29no) spared the Strikers total humiliation in front of a huge crowd of 41,624 at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday night, taking them to 8-142.

But it wasn’t enough to stop the resurgent Allen (50 off 23 balls), golden-bat leader Cooper Connolly (48 off 35 balls) and captain Ashton Turner (35 off 18 balls) from guiding the Scorchers to victory with 33 deliveries left. .

However, Perth’s response was not without drama.

Matt Hurst was dropped twice before being bundled for three, and the Scorchers should have been 3-13 when Connolly, on four, edged Doggett to wicketkeeper Ollie Pope, but only the bowler made a muted appeal.

Allen, who came into the match with 10 runs from four digs, got 11 points from Alex Ross before drawing the ire of fiery Adelaide import Overton.

After Doggett had castrated Allen, captain Ashton Turner came in and finished the job, beating Cameron Boyce for 6-6-4.

Earlier the Strikers crashed to 8-58 before Doggett – whose previous best Twenty20 score was 10 no – and Boyce became unlikely allies.

Jhye Richardson, recalled to the Australian squad for the Boxing Day Test against India, boosted his hopes of selection in the upcoming match in Sydney by taking three wickets

Allan hit his way to a half-century, the highest individual score of the match, to help the Scorchers win by seven wickets

Only D’Arcy Short (22) and Ross (20) – who filled in as skipper for the injured Matt Short, who suffered a broken toe against the Hobart Hurricanes last Friday – reached double figures for Adelaide before the resurrection of Doggett and Boyce.

Pope (1) and Chris Lynn (1) went cheaply before Jake Weatherald (8) fell to a stunning one-handed catch from Andrew Tye, who launched himself into mid-air.

Jhye Richardson, recalled to the Australian squad for the recently completed Boxing Day Test against India, boosted his hopes of selection in the upcoming match in Sydney with a hat-trick of wickets.

The paceman set up Overton to poke an edge to Ashton Agar on backward point, before clearing Liam Scott with an excellent yorker following ball.

The Strikers, losing 6-18 in 30 balls, were saved by Doggett and Boyce who formed an unbroken union of 84 runs, the best ever before the penultimate wicket.

Pace trio Richardson (3-29), Jason Behrendorff (2-14) and Lance Morris (2-19) were the main destroyers with the ball for the visitors, whose only concern came when Agar left the field with back spasms.