'Crazy': Disbelief over 'brainless' moment in Big Bash calamity
Alex Carey has come under fire for his ‘brainless’ dismissal as the Adelaide Strikers were eliminated from the Big Bash finals.
Sydney Thunder advanced to the BBL challenger after notching a fighting eight-run win over the Strikers in the knockout at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
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After restricting the Thunder to 7-151, the Strikers looked in firm control at 3-115 before staggering to 9-143 thanks to a withering 6-28 collapse.
The run out of vice-captain Carey (28) via a direct hit from desperate, diving Thunder captain Callum Ferguson sparked the terminal collapse, Rashid Khan and Matt Short duly departing for ducks.
Carey took off for a dicey single after hitting the ball to Ferguson at mid-off and was caught well short of his ground.
Fans couldn’t believe the wicketkeeper had thrown away his wicket at such an important juncture.
The start of the end for the Strkers
— Stanley263 (@Steve56272326) February 1, 2020
Brainless running from Alex Carey. 🤦♂️#BBL09
— Alex Oates (@AlexJOates11) February 1, 2020
Alex Carey rarely puts a foot wrong, but that run out has cost the Strikers tonight. It was unnecessary and put the pressure on the middle-to-lower order and they crumbled under pressure. #BBL09
— Alex Oates (@AlexJOates11) February 1, 2020
@sirswampthing is there anyway to determine who has been involved in the most run outs in BBL whilst batting? Without the benefit of stats it feels like Alex Carey would be head and shoulders above anyone else.
— Tatts 🇦🇺 (@tatts37) February 1, 2020
How brain dead does that unnecessary single by Alex Carey look like now? Crazy.
— Daniel (@735Doon) February 1, 2020
Alex Carey and Wells have this game on toast and Carey ridiculously runs himself out and now puts the Strikers new bats under pressure..
Crazy #BBL09— Sports Nut (@ChickDill) February 1, 2020
Another shocking collapse in BBL finals
With 34 required off the last three overs, Chris Tremain sent down four wides in a ragged 18th over which went for 16 before Daniel Sams (3-23), the tournament's leading wicket-taker, swung the momentum back the Thunder's way, sending Michael Neser (12) and Peter Siddle (duck) packing.
Then, when Jon Wells (34), the Strikers' last hope, edged behind the first ball of the 20th over, the result was beyond doubt.
"It was a disappointing way to finish, to go out like that when you've cost yourself more than them beating us in the end," Siddle said.
"We put ourselves in a position where we got the run rate above the run rate needed.
"Then to fall in a heap like that was disappointing."
Phil Salt (5) fell to a sharp chance from Alex Hales early before Jake Weatherald (18) holed out.
Captain Travis Head looked fluent before chopping spinner Jonathan Cook (2-16) on before Wells joined Carey in the middle.
The pair placed the Strikers in the box seat before Carey's run out turned the contest on its head.
"That run out was key to our win," Sams said.
"We knew that Carey is really fast and good between the wickets but also prone to a run out sometimes.
"Fergy was all over him."
Earlier, Hales clubbed five sixes in his electric 59 off 35 balls, his fourth half-century from his past five outings. Ferguson (1) was unluckily adjudged lbw to Siddle (2-21) with replays confirming it was going over.
The rub of the green remained with Siddle when a ricochet off his heel from a full-blooded Chris Morris onto the stumps drive saw Arjun Nair (18) caught short at the non-striker's end.
Siddle then yorked Sams in the 20th over.
The Thunder will tackle the Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Thursday, with the winner progressing to the title decider against the Sydney Sixers at the SCG next Saturday.
with AAP
