Mohali:The immensely talented Mitchell Marsh hit successive sixes off the last two deliveries as Perth Scorchers from Australia beat South Africa’s Dolphins by six wickets in a group league match of the Champions League T20, here on saturday.
Needing 12 off the last two deliveries, Marsh dispatched seamer Robbie Frylinck over deep mid-wicket and long-on to successfully chase down a target of 165 set up by the Dolphins.
Ther final six sparked off wild celebrations as it turned out to be a disappointing end for the unfancied Dolphins, who were favourites till final two deliveries of the match.
It was ironical that Frylinck, who himself while batting hit two sixes off Yasir Arafat during the last over of the Dolphins innings, couldn’t defend those two big hits, when he came on to bowl the final over in the Scorchers innings.
Predictably, Marsh was awarded man-of-the-match award for his 40 off 26 balls with three fours and two sixes.
For Scorchers, the foundation was laid by a 55-run partnership for the second wicket between Craig Simmons (48, 36 balls) and Sam Whiteman (45, 32 balls).
Simmons’ innings had five fours and two sixes while Whiteman smashed six boundaries apart from a six.
It was further consolidated by a third wicket stand of 49 off six overs between Marsh and Whiteman.
However it was Ashton Agar (15), who joined Marsh as the duo upped the ante towards the end before Marsh ended with a bang with those two maximums. (PTI)
Brief scores:
Dolphins: 164 for seven in 20 overs (Khaya Zondo not out 63, Kesav Maharaj 29; Jason Behrendorff 3/46, Joel Paris 2/21).
Perth Scorchers: 165 for four in 20 overs (Craig Simmons 48, Sam Whiteman 45, Mitchell Marsh not out 40; Kyle Abbott 1/25).