BBL 10

[The Professor]

I would say that D'Arcy Short's batting is only marginally more useful for Hobart than his bowling. 3 wickets today takes him to 6 in the tournament compared to 141 runs. They lost to SydThun today. The two Sydneys are running away with this.

On the other end of the bowling spectrum, Mark Steketee is now the joint highest wicket taker thanks to another 3 in a 0 over game that saw Brisbane beat MelStars.

[Durhamfootman]

I rather got the impression that there was some stunning fielding by Brisbane players which helped get them over the line. 2 certain sixes that were athletically parried back into play saving 4 runs

Hobart appear to be in near terminal decline since their very good start. Brisbane and Perth slowly dragging themselves back into contention

[Durhamfootman]

why are there 5 equaliliminatorfiers? Even the IPL can only manage 4. Do the top 5 qualify or something? I confess it's too complicated for my very small brain to get to grips with

[The Professor]

After 12 months of mediocre performances in a number of T20 tournaments, Nabi pulled one out the bag today with 71 off 41 to get MelRen over Adelaide's total of 177.

[Durhamfootman]

why are there 5 equaliliminatorfiers? Even the IPL can only manage 4. Do the top 5 qualify or something? I confess it's too complicated for my very small brain to get to grips with

seemingly 4th plays 5th

then the winner plays 3rd

meanwhile......... 1st plays 2nd with the winner going straight to the final do not pass go do not collect £200

the loser plays the winner of 4-v-5-v-3 and the winner of that goes to the final collecting £200 on the way, because they've definitely had to pass go

A remarkably uncontrived way to fit an extra match in..... I wonder if the 1/100th will be able to out contrive it... they'll have to or nobody will take it seriously

[The Professor]

After moderate returns turned into a poor run of form, Brathwaite was back with a bang with figures of 4-18 for SydSix against Brisbane. Despite limiting Brisbane to 148, SydSix still needed to take it to the final ball to win. It has been a good day for Brathwaite as he was also drafted for Multan in the PSL.

[Durhamfootman]

consecutive first ball blobs for Maxwell

[The Professor]

Nic Maddinson was the best player of the day today but ended up on the losing side. His 48* was a little slow - but was enough to see him top score for the game. MelStars total of 149-7 was chased down fairly comfortably in 19 overs by Adelaide.

[The Professor]

Another good performance from Phillipe as the Sixers beat the Thunder. Find it odd he looked so anodyne in the IPL. Home surface maybe?

[Durhamfootman]

I always feel a bit sorry for the side on the wrong end of a contrived D/L run chase. No matter what the result, it always feels a little unsatisfactory. Once Philippe took a punt and spanked the bowler for 4 fours and a six in the second over, the game was pretty much up for the side that didn't know, when they were rebuilding their innings, that it was going to rain at half time. When a third of the overs are lost for the reply it gives the chasing side carte blanche to throw the bat at everything. They still have to do it, of course, but it always feels to me as though the cards are stacked in their favour

[Durhamfootman]

although if Durham had been chasing, only about 10 runs would have been docked for the loss of those 6 overs..... at least it always feels that way to me

[Durhamfootman]

Morkel replaced Bartlett as a super sub in today's game. Bartlett had already bowled one over, so I was a little surprised to see his replacement get a full 4 overs in. I didn't think that that was the way it worked.... clearly I was wrong

maybe the BBL should adopt the American football model and have 3 separate teams... one when fielding, one when batting and one for free hits

[Durhamfootman]

first match for Adelaide without either their capt or vice capt and they turn into a rudderless mess. An absolute thrashing at the hands of the Stars

[The Professor]

Phillipe is really proving to be the breakout player of the tournament. Another 84 today sees him with 421 in the tournament - 98 more than any other player. When he goes big he goes very big. It says a lot that 3 of his 11 scores have been in single figures and he is still up there.

[Durhamfootman]

1st defeat in 6 for Perth, I think.... also missing their skipper. Leadership does seem to matter in the BBL