Summary
Well, I’m glad I stuck round for the second innings of that. That was incredible sporting action. And a reminder for kids everywhere - even when it looks 100% over, it’s not over.
Renegades were dead, buried and cremated. But they rose from the crypt. What a delight for their fans who have had slim pickings to celebrate this season.
Big news from the A-League as well, where it’s been reported that Markus Babbel is facing the sack - not even after his side lost at home to Perth Glory, but reportedly with the decision having already been made pre-game, and the news emerging ahead of full-time.
A dramatic conclusion to a day that started with a dramatic return to UFC for Connor McGregor. Feel free to scroll back through the below to relive any of the action you missed. Cheerio!
Big Bash League: Renegades win by 44 runs!
This is a one of a kind. It’s a dog with five legs, it’s a meteor into the sun. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a game like this.
From 0/86 to all out for 120.
Get on the phone to Greg Norman, tell Nick Faldo he’s off the hook. We have a new worthy recipient for the title of The Big Choke - and it’s the Brisbane Heat.
How in the name of anything have they contrived to throw away two competition points here?!
Melbourne Renegades were 1-9 on the competition ladder. They were getting battered from pillar to post during the opening powerplay. Bowlers look like they didn’t want the ball thrown to them. Chris Lynn looked like a Roman amphitheatre gladiator with an insatiable lust for blood.
But from nowhere, the Renegades have turned the contest. Credit Dan Christian, credit Cameron Boyce. And all of a sudden, they’re two wins in two. Incredible stuff. Incredible scenes.
The fans in Brisbane are utterly shell-shocked. They thought they were seeing their side march up the table. They should have leapt into the top four and been knocking at second.
My. Word.
Updated
Big Bash - Wicket! Heat 7/118 (13.4), Cutting 5
This is an incredible half an hour. Welcome to the short form of the game, huh? They were 0/84. Now they’ve added 7/34.
It looks a tough decision, mind. The umpire has sent Cutting for lbw, but was their an inside edge; and was it sliding down legside anyway?!
He’s fuming the big all-rounder. Not just because he knows he has to go into a dressing room to face Joe Burns who he just ran out!
It’s down to the bowlers. Pattinson and Lalor are the men to try and see it home.
But Lalor goes first ball! It’s a nothing shot, and it clips into the wicketkeeper’s gloves.
This is madness from the Heat! They’ve lost five for five.
Big Bash - Wicket! Heat 6/114 (13), Burns 14
Oh my - this is an incredible turnaround! They’ve lost 6/30, the Heat. From being in utter control of this match, suddenly the home side are in freefall.
Credit the captaincy of Dan Christian - he made the call to put Boyce on against de Villiers, and since then they’ve really tightened the screws.
Joe Burns has left the ground, absolutely fuming. He knocked it into space and scampered, but the new man Ben Cutting has sent him back, and he’s found well short of his ground; run out.
Updated
Big Bash - Wicket! Heat 4/114 (12.3), Heazlett 56
HELLO. They were absolutely flying, the Heat. And even after that flurry of big wickets, you still thought these two could settle. But Burns has looked scratchy, the runs starting slowing, and they went half an hour without a boundary. And then the tension told - the set man goes, a feather nick off the spinner, and Patel gets the breakthrough!
And would you believe this - it’s another hattrick opportunity - Patel’s picked up Jimmy Pierson first ball!
Cutting to face strike.
But he survives!
Updated
Big Bash - Heat 3/103 (10), Burns 8*, Heazlett 52*
So at the halfway point, it’s still the Heat well and truly in control, despite that run of wickets, first from Fekete with Lynn holing out in the deep, and then Boyce’s stunning over taking care of De Villiers and Renshaw.
It’s been calmer stuff since then, with these two tucking their heads a little, and just focusing on picking up the ones and twos.
And staying with cricket, an update from Bangalore where, unfortunately for Australian fans, there’s been a flurry of wickets as well.
At almost the same moment in time, at two different grounds, two near hattricks - has that ever happened in global cricket before? I’m calling mystic energy. Getting into tarot/astrology areas I reckon.
Big Bash - Wicket! Heat 2/86 (6.2), De Villiers
Oh wow! It’s the first tactical battle they’ve won of this innings - the Renegades have sent out the leg spinner Cameron Boyce to face the fabled South African, and two balls in, he’s got him!
De Villiers opens the shoulders, but he doesn’t pick it, and Boyce has him cleaned bowled!
And next ball - he’s picked up Matthew Renshaw!! Dan Christian brings in the slip, and Marsh grabs at the edge.
Joe Burns comes in and survives the hattrick ball. Hasn’t the match just swung around dramatically.
Heat call for the timeout at the end of the over to reassess.
Big Bash - Wicket! Heat 1/84 (6), Lynn 41 (15)
They’ve got him - but the horse is out of the stables, the gate has been thoroughly kicked in, and that’s little more than mercy for the Renegades at this stage, because who’s just walked out.. AB de Villiers. Oh my.
Chris Lynn has just battered the Renegades, and the Heat skipper departs with the chase already reduced to a run-a-ball and we’ve 14 overs to run.
Big Bash - Heat 0/75 (5), Lynn 37*, Heazlett 38*
13, 13, 10, 24, 13. And we haven’t even seen AB de Villiers. That’s one heck of a powerplay, and this is the kind of batting that bowlers lie awake in terror at night.
Followed by... 0️⃣ 4️⃣ 6️⃣ 4️⃣ 0️⃣ 1️⃣
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 19, 2020
This is nuts #BBL09 https://t.co/IgqPt867X4
And finally, Heazlett misjudges one - and Wildermuth scrambles after it.. but he puts it down. Nothing is falling their way; they’re a team bereft of confidence right now.
Big Bash - Heat 0/60 (4), Lynn 37*, Heazlett 23*
Goodness gracious. I said he was playing second fiddle. Not for long. That was one of the most brutal overs of T20 cricket you’ll ever see - Chris Lynn has just put Mohammad Nabi 110m back over his head. THREE sixes off that over - and that’s 24 off the over.
This is a bloodbath. Stop the fight.
Big Bash - Heat 0/26 (2), Heazlett 21*, Lynn 4*
So, the home side are out to start their run chase, and they do not look like they plan on sticking round.
We’re used to seeing Chris Lynn dismember opposition attacks single-handedly, but he’s second fiddle so far - five boundaries off two overs for Sam Heazlett. 13 from the first, 13 from the second. Still, a long way to go in this one.
Updated
There’s a lot flying round, I’ll be honest. Internet reports are saying Markus Babbel is already sacked from the Wanderers, but he’s just fronted for an interview on Fox Sports and didn’t give the air of somebody who know’s they’ve been handed their redundancy.
If true, it’s baffling the club would already make the decision ahead of this game - you either sack the manager, or you give him one last chance; you don’t send a dead man out to coach a side.
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Big Bash - End of Innings: Renegades 6/164 (20)
Well, for all that talk of the innings drifting, how’s T20: it’s a blockbuster last over or two for the Melbourne side with Nabi and Patel throwing the willow late on. 23 off 10 and 22 off 15 great end of innings cameos, and suddenly it’s the magic mark of 160 that’s been reached.
Will it be enough? You’d never say yes with a batting line up that contains Chris Lynn and AB de Villiers.
Updated
Full-time: Western Sydney 0-1 Perth Glory
90 + 8 min: Fornaroli uses his experience and puts his body on the line, and Schwegler goes straight through him. Some frustration from the Swiss, you’d imagine.
There’s the whistle - and it’s a rueful shake of the head to the fourth official from Babbel - who in fairness, if this result has sealed his fate, you can’t blame the coach for the inexplicable error from an experienced defender, followed by a double ricochet goal. An absolute sucker punch, but it’s six straight wins for Perth Glory who keep the heat on Sydney FC and Melbourne City.
Updated
A-League - 88 min: Very little time to run for the Wanderers to turn this around, but thanks to those numerous VAR stops, word has just filtered through that we have EIGHT minutes of stoppage time.
Can they get it done deep into Fergie time, Western Sydney?
Big Bash - Renegades 5/127 (17), Nabi 14*, Christian 1*
And once again, it’s another close-but-not-quite as Webster goes for 36 - a second c&b of the innings, this time for Cutting.
They just needed somebody to stay the course and guide this innings home. That said, if they can put a decent final three over together here they may be fashion a competitive total, the Renegades.
A-League - 80 min: And some very ominous news filtering round the interweb spheres - ESPN has tweeted that “sources” around WSW have already confirmed Babbel’s departure from the club inside the next 24 hours.
If true, that’s a bit deflating. If false, incredibly disrespectful.
There have been allegations of staff members white anting the German, if that’s true, and any of those are the same-said “sources” then there’s something very rotten indeed happening at Western Sydney right now.
A-League - Goal disallowed! Western Sydney 0-1 Perth
76 min: Cripes, it’s a third disallowed goal of the contest, and it’s Chianese again denied! That’s been perhaps the most marginal of the three, the computer-generated line suggests he was a shoelace ahead of the last line of defence, but to the naked eye it looked okay. The Perth flyer is denied a fourth of the season - and the Wanderers hang on!
A-League - 71 min: It’s just drifted a little back towards Perth, these past 5-10 minutes. The Wanderers are enjoying 60% of possession, and passing at over 84% accuracy, but they’re finding it hard to create too many clear cut opportunities. Of their 13 shots at goal, only two have found the target.
A fair argument for the arrival of Irish international Cox, signed midweek you’d have to say.
Big Bash - Renegades 4/96 (13.4), Sutherland 20
For all their “name” batsmen it’s the less heralded duo again looking promising for the Renegades. Two massive sixes from Will Sutherland - one smashes straight through a Bunnings chair on the sideline: lucky nobody was on it! And he and Webster are building nicely here.
And would you believe it, no sooner than I’ve typed that, and Sutherland’s gone again - but this time, not found the rope. It’s Laughlin again with the breakthrough, that’s a key blow for the Renegades.
A-League - 65 min: A promising attack on the counter from the home side, but the cross just evades the intended teammate.
At the other end Meredith picks out Castro free in the box, but Jurman is across well to cover, at the expense of a corner.
A-League - 59 min: In fairness, this has been the best patch of the game, for the Wanderers. Similar to their second half against the Phoenix last weekend, where having gone behind they made all the running. Ominously though for their fans, on that occasion they were unable to find the equaliser.
A thought for Popovic’s thinking - his normally unflappable side are looking a little ropey here. There could yet be some late twists in this one.
A-League: Goal disallowed! Western Sydney 0-1 Perth
55 min: Oh my. Would you believe it - our referee has had a wink and a nod from upstairs and he’s been invited to the sideline. No definitive replays, but it does appear that Yeboah had used the arm, and not the chest, to bundle that one home!
Boos, and bottles from the crowd. They’re not happy - but on balance you’d have to say it was probably the correct decision.
A-League: Goal! Western Sydney 1-1 Perth Glory (Yeboah)
52 min: Ziegler and Muller look to combine, this is a good little patch for the Wanderers.
And minutes later they do appear to have the equaliser! It’s a drilled shot from the far post from Georgievski and it’s bundled home from Yeboah. A lifeline for Markus Babbel!
Updated
Big Bash - Renegades 3/63 (10), Webster 7*, Sutherland 0*
Harper joins his opening pair back in the sheds as he took on Cutting, but lost out - gone for 21. It’s the story of the Renegades’ season, really - starts but not too many big knocks.
At the halfway mark of the innings therefore it’s the Heat who’d be liking what they see. Run rate at around a run-a-ball, and three men gone, no batsmen set.
A-League - Second half!
45 min: We’re back - and what can the Wanderers muster in Parramatta?
They’re fast out of the blocks, and the German, Ziegler, has gone to ground in the box and is screaming for a penalty. Replays suggest a dive for simulation may have been a better likelihood.
Big Bash: Renegades 2/49 (7.2), Marsh 27
And just as they were building a little momentum, the Renegades have lost their other experienced man! It’s another start, but not quite for Marsh, who is deceived by the pace of Laughlin he catches the splice of the bat - and its flown almost further than the shot did! Ball flies high in the air, and it’s gratefully accepted as a catch.
Big opportunity for Beau Webster, as he joins Harper in the centre.
A-League: Western Sydney 0-1 Perth Glory - half time
Not a lot to inspire the faithful, alas, in Parramatta - it’s the now familiar Popovic-constrictor job as Perth slowly squeeze the life out of their hosts following that early gift from Wanderers’ experienced defender Dylan McGowan.
Big challenges for the Wanderers to find a way back into this contest - a fine strike from Nicolai Muller aside, there wasn’t much to celebrate. Still, as legs tire more opportunities may emerge.
Updated
Big Bash: Wicket! Renegades 1/18 (3.3), Harris 6
Oh my. It’s not been a great season for Marcus Harris - who attempts a cheeky flick over the head of the ‘keeper but can only watch as it flies straight into the mitts of Peirson. It’s Pattinson with the breakthrough - the extra pace catching the batsman a little late in the stroke perhaps, and it’s another non-confident start from the team that’s sitting 1-9 on the ladder.
A-League - 36 min: More concern on the Wanderers home bench as Yeboah stays down after a nasty collision. He sees a few minutes of medical attention, but does appear to be right to re-join the play.
Now, it’s Kamau down after another heavy collision with a possible concussion scare. When you’re down on fortune it really does come like London buses.
A-League: Goal - disallowed! Western Sydney 1-0 Perth Glory
30 min: And have Perth doubled their lead? No, says the linesman - and replays suggest, correctly. Chianese in an offside position, but isn’t he in some form, the former Sydney FC flyer.
A relief for Babbel. Can that reprieve give his side a mini morale boost?
Big Bash: Renegades 0/1 (1), Marsh 1*, Harris 0*
It’s the visitors who are sent in to bat first after the Heat won the toss. A very tame opening from the two experienced batsmen - no Aaron Finch of course, who’s over in India with the Australian team who have their own limited overs match going on.
You can follow that one here:
27 min: And that said, it’s a terrific strike from Muller - and an even better save from the ever-green Liam Reddy in Perth’s goal!
They say beer is his preference, but he really is a fine wine, Reddy. How is he still so reliable - twenty seasons on since his days in the NSL?!
24 min: There’s a fascinating ebb-and-flow to this one already, as Perth break swiftly with Castro alert, as ever.
It’s a hugely tricky situation for Babbel now - sides coached by Tony Popovic, as we’ve seen over the history of the A-League, are terrific front runners. With the experience inside this Perth side and the confidence in the camp right now, you can’t imagine them ceding their advantage anytime soon.
18 min: Freekick for Western Sydney as Wuthrich bundles over Duke with a “robust” shoulder-to-shoulder.
A handy area, and Pirmin Schwegler is over the ball. Can he conjure something special, the Swiss midfielder?
He thumps it into the wall, and it strikes the arm of a defender, but you wouldn’t imagine VAR would get involved. Or would you?
Updated
11 min: What a horrific start for the home side, and in all fairness to Babbel - how do you coach for play like that - from a vastly experienced A-League defender? That was shambolic from McGowan. Let’s see what kind of response this prompts from his ten colleagues in red and black.
Goal! Western Sydney 0-1 Perth Glory (Fornaroli)
6 min: A very early yellow card for visiting striker, Bruno Fornaroli for a high foot in the face of Patrick Ziegler. But his fortune turns very quickly.
It’s a poor pass out of defence from Dylan McGowan that is picked off by Jake Brimmer, who feeds the Uruguayan who benefits from a double riccochet of first McGowan, then the body of the keeper Lopar!
A-League: Kick off!
1 min: And we’re away in Parramatta! It has been said, at length, but it’s worth re-iterating: a big, BIG, match for the Wanderers, whose leadership will be well and truly appraising the entire Babbel project on results like today. He is very much on borrowed time, the German, as pointed out in our A-League column from a few weeks back.
They did have Simon Cox, the new star striker signed from England’s League One midweek, in the house, so that’s at least a bright spot on the horizon for Wanderers’ fans, and a sign perhaps that the German might yet have a little more breathing room.
We’re not a million miles away from first ball in the BBL Heat v Renegades clash. Technically it’s 6 v 8; but there’s a lot on the line given how import the two competition points could prove for Brisbane’s finals hopes. More from the Gabba shortly, but first to the A-League.
A quick look at line ups for Wanderer’s key home clash against Perth:
The home side.
And here's how our @ALeague team will be lining up against Perth! #WSW #WSWvPER pic.twitter.com/RQnN8JKtcZ
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) January 19, 2020
And the in-form visitors.
Kim returns to the starting line-up as we look to make it 6 win on the bounce 👊#WSWvPER #OneGlory pic.twitter.com/4EAAXjyemJ
— Perth Glory FC (@PerthGloryFC) January 19, 2020
A team that’s lost seven of it’s last nine plays a team that’s won five straight. But, as we’ve seen in the A-League, anyone can beat anyone if they’re on the money.
Nau mai, haere mai to all and sundry, from wherever you’re reading our blog around the world tonight!
Are you a Wanderers fan backpacking through Budapest; a Heat fan in Honduras? Drop us a line and join the conversation tonight, as always via email or twitter.
We’ve got one last game of A-League for the round and then a bit of BBL action as well. Thoughts, predictions, musings?
We’ve already seen two coaching sackings in the A-League in recent weeks. Could a bad result in Western Sydney prompt a third? Find out here, on Sportwatch.
Right, that’s enough from me for one day. Over to Richard Parkin to take you through the night. Cheerio!
W-League: Western Sydney Wanderers 3-1 Perth Glory
The Wanderers keep the pressure on Melbourne City at the top of the W-League after leading for almost the entirety of the match to down Perth Glory. Glory remain winless.
All over at Bankwest Stadium.#WSWvPER #OneGlory pic.twitter.com/yBPCQGAn9K
— Perth Glory FC (@PerthGloryFC) January 19, 2020
A-League: Western United 3-0 Central Coast Mariners
No further goals in the second-half as Western United consolidate their status in the top-six and the Mariners remain second from bottom.
🏁 FULL TIME
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) January 19, 2020
A quieter second half with a few chances for both sides, but a comfortable afternoon on the whole for @wufcofficial 👏#WUNvCCM #ALeague pic.twitter.com/nX4sSwoHvL
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Hobart Hurricanes 176-6 (Adelaide Strikers win by 10 runs)
David Miller kept them in with a sniff right until the final over but it’s another poor day at the office for the Hurricanes who extend their dismal run of form. Adelaide’s stars, like Rashid Khan, didn’t fire, but the explosive hitting of Travis Head and the death bowling of Peter Siddle proved enough to see the Strikers move up to second on the BBL ladder.
20th over: Hurricanes 176-6 (Miller 90, Rogers 2) Nothing Miller can to with yet another superb yorker, this time accepting the single. Rogers can only inside-edge for another single as Siddle’s death over clinic continues. Miller finally gets hold of one, the last ball of the day, a low full toss, but it’s a pyrrhic six with the Strikers already assured of victory.
19.3 over: Hurricanes 168-6 (Miller 81, Rogers 1) Dot ball - slapped to cow corner but fielded and the single declined. The Hurricanes have to deal in sixes now.
19.2 over: Hurricanes 168-6 (Miller 83, Rogers 1) Siddle to Miller - dot - nutmegging the batsman with a leg-side yorker. Two from ball two, another perfectly executed yorker, this time outside off stump.
19th over: Hurricanes 166-6 (Miller 81, Rogers 1) The tempo drops when Miller can only cut Neser for one and Rogers can only bunt an attempted ramp for a single into the leg-side. The final ball of the over is also a single, after some excellent work on the square-leg fence from Rashid Khan.
21 required from the final over. Miller on strike.
18.3 over: Hurricanes 163-6 (Miller 79, Rogers 0) Miller follows up his six with a two then another six! Straight and clean and pure, drilled like a sweet six-iron. We have a game!
18.1 over: Hurricanes 155-6 (Miller 71, Rogers 0) Neser’s first ball is swung by Miller in a pure arc for six out of the ground over square-leg. 96m hit. Pure and massive. New ball required.
32 from 11; they couldn’t, could they?
Updated
18th over: Hurricanes 149-6 (Miller 65) Miller took the strike following Bailey’s dismissal and he launches Agar miles over backward square-leg for six to recharge the run chase. Rose joins in the fun, lofting elegantly for four over mid-off, then he steps back and cuts hard towards third-man where Siddle runs around and takes the catch! Nothing going Hobart’s way this afternoon.
an improbable 38 from two overs is the task facing the Hurricanes. Miller on strike.
17.2 overs: Hurricanes 138-5 (Miller 59) Miller is holding his end up, but the rest of the Hurricanes are failing to match their overseas star. Bailey is the latest to perish, edging Agar for two then flapping him tamely to square-leg for a six-ball five.
Updated
17th over: Hurricanes 136-4 (Miller 59, Bailey 3) This is all about David Miller now, can he do it off his own bat? He starts the 17th over as if he can, slogging Rashid Khan for four, but he can only muscle a single from ball two. Bailey clips neatly for a couple but then he’s beaten by a skidding leggy and can only force a single into the off-side from ball five. Miller has to find the rope to end the over - and he does - slapping a four between the midwicket and long-on boundary riders.
51 from 18 required.
16th over: Hurricanes 124-4 (Miller 50, Bailey 0) Siddle’s back, but Miller is into his work now, bringing up his first 50 of the season from just 33 balls with a lovely late cut for four. McDermott tries to keep the momentum flowing Hobart’s way, but all he can do is pick out Salt at mid-on to fall for a 17-ball 31.
15th over: Hurricanes 116-3 (Miller 45, McDermott 28) O’Connor has looked the weakest link in Adelaide’s attack so far and Miller likes what he sees, sweeping the leggy for four, then driving for a couple. A single brings McDermott on strike and he rocks back and launches the ball way over cow corner, making a fool out of Channel Seven’s Jim Wilson in the dugout. 14 from the over. Five more overs like that and we have a game.
14th over: Hurricanes 102-3 (Miller 38, McDermott 21) If Hobart were starting to fancy their chances, the return of Michael Neser has just put them back in their place. Just six from the over and the required rate is now up to 14.
13th over: Hurricanes 96-3 (Miller 34, McDermott 19) Rashid’s back into the attack, but this is not the return from the superstar we’ve expected so far in BBL09. He goes for fours through midwicket and down to fine-leg despite showing an impressive variety of skills.
W-League: 57 mins: Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 Perth Glory - Wanderers didn’t hang around restoring their lead.
⚽️ GOAL, @wswanderersfc 2-1 @PerthGloryFC (57 mins)
— Westfield W-League (@WLeague) January 19, 2020
And it didn't take long. Vine finds space from a few meters out and puts @wswanderersfc back in the lead#WSWvPER #WLeague pic.twitter.com/vlIoi1YsV1
12th over: Hurricanes 84-3 (Miller 23, McDermott 18) Bosh! McDermott lofts Agar into the sight-screen for six! Could that be the spark Hobart require? They get a life soon afterwards when Miller’s pull to midwicket is grassed by Wells coming in from the boundary. 12 from the over, which is par, for the time being.
W-League: 54 mins: Western Sydney Wanderers 1-1 Perth Glory - It didn’t take long for that triple-substitution to pay off! Glory are back level in Sydney.
11th over: Hurricanes 72-3 (Miller 22, McDermott 7) The required run-rate is now the best part of 13rpo as O’Connor keeps Hobart to seven from his latest over over leg-spin.
A-League / W-League: We’re underway in the second-halves of the two domestic football matches of the day. In the A-League Western United hold a 3-0 advantage on Central Coast Mariners, while in the W-League Western Sydney are a goal to the good against Perth Glory. Glory’s coach, Bobby Despotovski, hasn’t hung around a half-time, making three subs!
🔁GLORY TRIPLE SUBSTITUTION (HT)🔁
— Perth Glory FC (@PerthGloryFC) January 19, 2020
🔼ON: Aquino
🔽OFF: Campbell
🔼ON: Doeglas
🔽OFF: JUKIC
🔼ON: WALLHEAD
🔽OFF: SARDO
(1-0) #WSWvPER #OneGlory
10th over: Hurricanes 65-3 (Miller 21, McDermott 1) That’s ended any doubt over the player of the match award - what a catch from Travis Head, leaping high to his right at cover to end Jake Doran’s blossoming knock at 28. Head’s athleticism earns Wes Agar his second scalp.
Ten overs left for Hobart to save their season. Just the 12rpo to worry about.
WICKET | What a grab from Travis Head!
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 19, 2020
📺 Stream #BBL09 ad-break free on Kayo: https://t.co/CfILOrTeyB
Live blog 📝: https://t.co/WFNYBUjrXC pic.twitter.com/pB97r3ZGYU
UFC: Here’s your report form Conor McGregor’s stunning return to the octagon.
9th over: Hurricanes 62-2 (Doran 26, Miller 21) The Hurricanes are starting to up the scoring rate, allowing only one dot ball from overs eight and nine, with the final delivery of Liam O’Connor’s over just evading the diving Siddle at backward point and running away for four.
7th over: Hurricanes 46-2 (Doran 17, Miller 14) Travis Head’s turn to chuck down some nudies from around the wicket to the left-handers, and it almost works when Doran flails at a sweep that loops off the top edge but into a gap at midwicket. Miller goes for the same shot with the final ball of the over and connects much better, striking Hobart’s first six of the day.
6th over: Hurricanes 36-2 (Doran 15, Miller 6) If Hobart are looking for a break they don’t get one when the Strikers turn to Rashid Khan, arguably the best T20 bowler in the world right now. Miller starts promisingly against him though, driving straight down the ground in controlled fashion for four. A few dot balls up the pressure but Doran releases it with a very well executed sweep for another boundary.
5th over: Hurricanes 27-2 (Doran 11, Miller 1) Agar’s excellent opening over ends with a neatly cut boundary from Doran, but the Hurricanes are way behind the game with 15-overs left to muster another 160 runs.
4.2 over: Hurricanes 21-2 (Doran 6) Wes Agar gets a bowl and he’s on the money ball one, forcing Jewell to unleash some frustration ball two but he can’t time his assault and sends a lofted drive miles in the air which is pouched safely by Neser walking in from mid-off. Hobart are showing why they’re at the wrong end of the ladder today.
Jewell hits it miles in the air, and Neser makes no mistake under the high ball. @StrikersBBL on top early #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/S8Hfcg9OTK
— #7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 19, 2020
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4th over: Hurricanes 21-1 (Jewell 10, Doran 6) Siddle is bowling superbly and he’s unlucky to see a Jewell inside edge fly away for four instead of ending in a play-on or edge behind. Both bowlers are finding unexpected bounce on a length that is too lively for the Hurricanes with plays and misses and outside edges aplenty.
3rd over: Hurricanes 15-1 (Jewell 5, Doran 5) Another tight over from Neser who Hobart can’t get away despite plenty of attempted innovation.
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2nd over: Hurricanes 8-1 (Jewell 2, Doran 1) Peter Siddle is bang on the money, hitting classical lines and lengths, angling the ball across the pair of left-handers. It almost ends with a wicket but Doran’s uncontrolled pull lands safely after skewing off the top edge. Hobart up against it.
1st over: Hurricanes 6-1 (Jewell 1) Back in Launceston the Hurricanes have started their chase of Adelaide’s 187 in dreadful fashion. Michael Neser’s opening over was probing and it ends with the wicket of Hobart skipper Matthew Wade, caught at first slip for five after edging an attempted drive.
That's a huge, huge wicket for the Strikers. Matthew Wade, GONE #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/GmG6XUwcxI
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 19, 2020
Updated
UFC: - Ok, so that didn’t last long. From the liveblog:
Conor McGregor wins by first-round TKO!
McGregor explodes from his corner at the bell and throws a massive left hand that just misses the target. Now McGregor hammers Cerrone with a couple of shoulder strikes out of the clinch and Cerrone is already bleeding from his nose. Cerrone is in big trouble early, his nose perhaps broken. McGregor drops him with a kick to the head and opens up with the ground and pound. Oh boy. Only a matter of time now ... and the referee has stopped it! McGregor has won in roughly 45 seconds to announce his return with style!
A-League: 21 mins: Western United 3-0 Central Coast Mariners - Make that 3-0! Western United running riot at Kardinia Park! Besart Berisha with his second of the afternoon.
A-League: 18 mins: Western United 2-0 Central Coast Mariners - The Mariners don’t like to do things the easy way. They are 2-0 down now courtesy of another Kye Rowles own goal.
The goal that doubled our lead! #WUFC #WUNvCCM pic.twitter.com/3SPqkt8eRO
— Western United FC (@wufcofficial) January 19, 2020
Updated
UFC: The much anticipated return to the octagon for Conor McGregor is about to get underway right here:
W-League: 8 mins: Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 Perth Glory - And an early goal too in the W-League.
And that's how you open the scoring... 👏@FOXFOOTBALL #WSW #WSWvPER pic.twitter.com/aNiGXe2Ze6
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) January 19, 2020
Here's how we'll be lining up in the @WLeague against Perth!#WSW #WSWvPER pic.twitter.com/UQ4DOwWSPh
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) January 19, 2020
Just the one change with Sardo coming into the Starting XI.
— Perth Glory FC (@PerthGloryFC) January 19, 2020
COME ON GLORY!#PERvWSW pic.twitter.com/R4h05WwT6Y
A-League: 6 mins: Western United 1-0 Central Coast Mariners - There’s an early goal in the day’s first A-League contest with ace marksman Besart Berisha adding to his ridiculous goals to games ratio for Western United.
That cross, that finish 😍 #WUFC #WUNvCCM pic.twitter.com/DUlTaygYoE
— Western United FC (@wufcofficial) January 19, 2020
A debut for Oskar Dillon while Kone and Risdon return. #WUFC #WUNvCCM pic.twitter.com/ftjxZgUyAX
— Western United FC (@wufcofficial) January 19, 2020
No changes to the XI from last week as kick-off approaches! Catch the game on @kayosports, @FOXFOOTBALL or the MyFootball Live App. #CCMFC #WUNvCCM pic.twitter.com/mEn1utvdiB
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) January 19, 2020
Adelaide Strikers 186-5
The highest BBL score on this ground then from the visitors after being sent in. Their total is thanks largely to Travis Head’s power hitting. His 79 from 40 balls took the game away from Hobart after they had started promisingly. Around him the running was purposeful and the bad balls were put away. A massive task for the Hurricanes in the chase, but it’s one they can’t afford to fall short in if they want to remain alive in BBL09.
Scott Boland was the pick of the bowlers and about the only one not to be punished severely by Head’s onslaught. His changes of pace revealed the pitch to be two-paced with something on offer for the quicks who can hit the deck hard but also grip for the change-ups.
After some early trouble, the @StrikersBBL rebound to post a big score #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/xJjM15McDZ
— #7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 19, 2020
20th over: Strikers 186-5 (Wells 45, Short 33) Ellis with the final over of the innings and three blockhole deliveries keep things tight before he offers width to Short who throws his hands at the ball and squirts a boundary through point. He perishes next ball though, top-edging a massive drive straight into the sky within easy reach of McDermott’s gloves. An enterprising 20-ball 33 from the No 6.
19th over: Strikers 179-4 (Wells 43, Short 28) Adelaide have run aggressively all afternoon, taking every single on offer and turning ones into twos, so even modest overs have kept the Strikers moving. That was on display again during Rogers’s final over, with a Short mow through cow corner for four gilding the lily. Rogers ends with 0/40.
Can't bowl there to Matt Short! #BBL09
— #7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 19, 2020
(You can, it's just the result will be poor for the bowler) pic.twitter.com/5e3DoRTNzt
18th over: Strikers 165-4 (Wells 38, Short 19) Ellis comes back for his third over and Adelaide milk eight from it, three of which arriving from an impudent Wells ramp to a slower ball that was hit so late and fine it practically went straight past the keeper.
17th over: Strikers 157-4 (Wells 33, Short 16) Some pretty ungainly hitting from Adelaide in these closing stages but it’s effective enough with a series of inside-edges and mistimed hoicks taking eight runs from Boland’s final over. The pick of Hobart’s attack ends with 2/26.
16th over: Strikers 149-4 (Wells 31, Short 10) Qais ends with 0/36 from his four over spell. It was on track to be much tidier but his last delivery is slog-swept over midwicket for six by Short. A nice little boost for the Strikers are a decent run from the Hurricanes. Adelaide still on course for a powerful score.
15th over: Strikers 138-4 (Wells 27, Short 3) Decent end to Rose’s spell, avoiding the concession of any boundaries to finish with 1/45 from his four overs.
14th over: Strikers 132-4 (Wells 22, Short 1) With Head no longer around to worry about Qais returns and a tight over eventually pays dividends when the becalmed Nielsen races off for a suicidal single, only be turned back (wisely) by Wells. Qais has an age to collect the ball mid-pitch and throw down the stumps from point-blank range.
Qais can do it all! #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/ceCzqxLc69
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 19, 2020
Updated
13th over: Strikers 126-3 (Wells 19, Nielsen 4) Harry Nielsen is off the mark with a boundary as Adelaide continue to power towards a huge total courtesy of the platform laid by Travis Head.
12.4 over: Strikers 121-3 (Wells 19) Hobart go back to Clive Rose, which is a massive risk in the circumstances, and Travis Head shows why, slog-sweeping the first ball of the over for yet another six, this one a massive floaty top edge over midwicket. There’s nothing floaty about his second maximum of the over that fizzes over midwicket like a scud missile. BUT THEN HE’S OUT! It looked like another six off the bat but his latest thwack to leg is plucked out of the sky by Jewell with his hands above his head inches from the rope. 79 magnificent, game-changing runs from Travis Head, from only 40 balls.
12th over: Strikers 107-2 (Head 65, Wells 19) Another over, another Travis Head six, this time getting under a Rogers low full toss and sending it back where it came from - with interest. He throws the kitchen sink at the follow up and gets a flukey outside edge that loops through the vacant first slip region and away for four. David Miller’s drop is getting worse by the minute.
Head has been focused and controlled at the crease from the get-go.
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 19, 2020
Here are just some of his highlights from his half-century.
📺 Stream #BBL09 ad-break free on Kayo: https://t.co/CfILOrTeyB
Live blog 📝: https://t.co/WFNYBUjrXC pic.twitter.com/he2c2x6h8H
11th over: Strikers 91-2 (Head 50, Wells 18) Head is absolutely flying. Another six, this time walloping Ellis 90m over midwicket, requires a new ball! And a single soon after sends him racing to a 31-ball 50.
Don't let the camera work deceive you. This ball went well and truly over the UTAS Stadium roof! #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/9RZyUOQuJ3
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 19, 2020
10th over: Strikers 83-2 (Head 43, Wells 17) This partnership is motoring now. Head welcomes Qais to the crease for his second over by slog-sweeping him for six over midwicket. Qais responds by inducing the third near play-on of Head’s innings but once again the Test batsman survives with plenty of good fortune. Nothing fortunate about his follow-up, slog-sweeping for six for the second time in three balls!
9th over: Strikers 68-2 (Head 29, Wells 14) Nathan ellis gets a bowl, and he’s an up-and-comer I like very much. Excellent hustle, stacks of variety. But after drawing some false strokes and beating Head’s outside edge with some extra bounce he’s hoicked to cow corner for four and a promising over ends up going for ten.
8th over: Strikers 58-2 (Head 22, Wells 13) Time for some Qais Ahmad mystery and he ties Head in knots from his opening ball, spinning it back into the left-hander who is lucky not to play-on for a second time. Head is even luckier two deliveries later when Miller drops a sitter coming in from the midwicket fence.
7th over: Strikers 54-2 (Head 19, Wells 12) Boland continues - and why wouldn’t he, with figures of two overs 2/9. Oof! That’s why he might be reconsidering - Wells taking a couple of steps and absolutely marmalising him straight back over his head for six. What a beautiful-sounding shot that was, a note-perfect zing off the bat. Belatedly, the Strikers are getting into their work.
6th over: Strikers 45-2 (Head 16, Wells 6) Rose returns but again he’s too short and Head this time cuts him for four with the minimum of fuss. Wells also collects four as the Strikers enjoy their best over of the powerplay.
5th over: Strikers 32-2 (Head 10, Wells 2) Jono Wells survives the hat-trick delivery and rotates the strike, allowing Head to bunt a lofted four through the covers. Adelaide are really struggling to ride the bounce and hit through the line of the ball securely so far.
4.1 overs: Strikers 24-2 (Head 5) Boland has his second! And it’s another catch in front of the wicket courtesy of a mistimed stroke, this time Boland himself taking a superb return catch to dismiss Weatherald. Boland is on a hat-trick!
The weekend of epic C&Bs continues.
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 19, 2020
Scott Boland is on a hat-trick! #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/CZfm4AdrSt
Updated
4th over: Strikers 24-1 (Weatherald 5, Head 5) Hobart are continuing to justify their decision to bowl first, keeping the Strikers on a tight rein during the powerplay. Rogers is again unlucky not to pick up a wicket when Travis Head inside-edges past his stumps.
3rd over: Strikers 17-1 (Weatherald 4) Excellent first over from Scott Boland ends with a wicket, Phil Salt getting a leading edge to a length delivery and picking out the point fielder. Boland mixed up his pace superbly from the off, exploiting a pitch that is just holding up a fraction making it tough for batsmen to time their strokes.
2nd over: Strikers 15-0 (Weatherald 3, Salt 12) Big let-off for Adelaide. Weatherald didn’t get enough onto a pull shot after Rogers sent down a heavier than expected ball but Jewell makes a horrible mess of a catch above his head at wide mid-on, fumbling the effort to the turf.
1st over: Strikers 11-0 (Weatherald 2, Salt 9) The bespectacled Clive Rose opens the bowling for Hobart with his left-arm orthodox but he drops short to Phil Salt twice who crunches through the covers off the back foot then pulls hard through midwicket to get the Strikers on their way. Alongside that a couple of very tight singles indicate Adelaide’s intent.
BBL: It’s warm, overcast, but dry in Launceston, and the teams are making their way out onto the field. It’s a pretty sparse crowd it has to be said. Cricket Australia have some questions to answer about scheduling with matchday attendances heading in the wrong direction despite continuing to deliver a solid product on and off field.
BBL: No Tassie devils in the Launceston deck.
It's perfect weather conditions in Launceston for the first game of our double header.@blewy214 has the pitch report from UTAS Stadium #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/kEQMYS9hrf
— #7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 19, 2020
BBL - The Hurricanes have won the bat flip and elected to bowl.
Hurricanes have won the bat flip and have elected to bowl. 👌🏼#TasmaniasTeam #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/LfboORAo12
— Hobart Hurricanes (@HurricanesBBL) January 19, 2020
We're goin' in with the same bois today ✊🏻 #BlueEnergy #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/ydBfhVWysQ
— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) January 19, 2020
U19 Cricket World Cup: The news wasn’t so good for Australia’s youngsters in the U19 Cricket World Cup as they went down to the West Indies in their opening match.
A rough start to Australia's U19 @cricketworldcup campaign but some diamonds in the rough as the West Indies claim a three-wicket win: https://t.co/T42HeaAGal #U19CWC #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/HH7PyhH270
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 18, 2020
Olyroos: Australia’s men’s football team is just one win away from the Tokyo Olympics after a dramatic 1-0 quarter-final win over Syria at the AFC U-23 Championship in Thailand.
Al Hassan Toure broke the deadlock in the 101st minute at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium on Saturday night to help push Australia into their first ever semi-final at the tournament, in which the top three will qualify for the Olympics in July.
The Adelaide United striker, who’s in his first season of professional football in Adelaide, took the field in the 65th minute and with both sides remaining goalless at fulltime, the match went into two halves of extra time.
Then there was a moment of magic as Olyroos midfielder Aiden O’Neill threaded an exquisite through ball from just past the halfway line to find Toure sprinting into the box.
The Australia forward poked at it with the outside of his right foot, pushing the ball through onrushing Syria keeper Mohammed Yazan Ourabi’s legs and into an open goal, sending the crowd into raptures.
It was Toure’s second goal for the Olyroos since he scored on debut in a friendly with China in November.
In the semi-finals, Australia will face the winner of Sunday’s quarter-final between South Korea and Jordan.
Saudia Arabia beat hosts Thailand 1-0 in the other quarter-final and they will line up against either the United Arab Emirates or Uzbekistan in the semi-finals.
Australian Associated Press
Australian Open: There’s also a couple of pre-tournament features you might have missed, like Russell Jackson’s scorching column on Nick Kyrgios.
And my experience of the first day of qualifying, an eerie smoke-filled afternoon that turned a celebration into something macabre.
Australian Open: The big names are all now in town and fulfilling their pre-tournament media duties. As this is the first major event of the year you often get more out of the superstars than at other events, so they can be worth dipping in and out of.
Australian Open: Let’s start with some tennis before we focus on the cricket, because the next fortnight is going to be all about Melbourne Park. And nobody will be under more scrutiny than home favourite Ash Barty, as Simon Cambers reports.
In a country that loves its sporting heroes like no other, Barty is as popular as any of them, if not more so. Down to earth, humble and gutsy, she epitomises all Australians recognise in a true sporting icon. But what has the country and the city even more excited is that in two weeks’ time, if things go her way, the world No 1 could make another piece of personal history by lifting the women’s title at the Australian Open.
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to another busy Sunday Sportwatch.
Leading off today we have Big Bash League action with the struggling Hurricanes welcoming the high-flying Strikers to Hobart. That one gets underway at 2.45pm.
While we’re keeping a close eye on the cricket there will be a separate liveblog launching around 4pm to take in the spectacle that is Conor McGregor’s return to the octagon.
At the same time the day’s football kicks off with Western United v Central Coast Mariners in the A-League and Western Sydney Wanderers v Perth Glory in the W-League.
As we move into the evening’s action another liveblog will commence around 6.30pm to see you through the deciding ODI of the series between India and Australia from Bengaluru.
Prichard Parkin will slip into the hot-seat over here and he will have the pleasure of narrating a crucial A-League encounter between the Wanderers and Glory (also 6.30pm start). That is a match under-fire Wanderers coach Markus Babbel dare not lose.
Alongside that from 7.10pm there’s more BBL action with the Heat hosting the cellar-dwelling Renegades.
If that wasn’t enough, throughout the day there’ll be tennis news filtering through from the Australian Open, the finale of the Women’s Tour Down Under, and the resumption of play in the third Test between South Africa and England.
If you want to join in, or direct me towards something I may have overlooked, please send emails to jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com and tweets to @JPHowcroft.
