Chris Lynn's 51-ball 88 seals Strikers' comfortable win
It was Lynn's highest BBL score since the 2019-20 tournament and his first half-century in this campaign
AAP
02-Jan-2025
Chris Lynn gave Strikers a big start • Getty Images
Adelaide Strikers 143 for 5 (Lynn 88, Zampa 2-29) beat Melbourne Renegades 142 for 9 (Brown 66, Thornton 3-22) by five wickets
Chris Lynn unleashed on Melbourne Renegades, powering Adelaide Strikers to their first BBL win in four games.
Moved up from No.3, Lynn dominated the 104-run opening stand with D'Arcy Short that ensured Adelaide's five-wicket win on Thursday night at Marvel Stadium. Lynn belted 88 from just 51 balls, with 10 fours and four sixes, as Adelaide romped to 143 for 5 in 17.1 overs.
It is Lynn's highest BBL score since the 2019-20 tournament and his first half-century in this campaign.
Adelaide were second-last before Thursday's game and the badly needed win improved their record to 2-4, while the Renegades are fifth on 2-3.
After four overs, Lynn had belted 37 and Short was yet to score, having faced just three balls.
Short finally scored a single in the fifth over and was the first wicket to fall, bowled by Tom Rogers in the 11th over for 27 from 20 balls.
A century went begging for Lynn in the next over when he belted Adam Zampa straight to Laurie Evans at cover. Lynn threw his head back in frustration.
Wickets fell steadily for Strikers but Lynn and Short had scored so heavily that the result was never in doubt.
After losing the toss and looking shaky at 40 for 2 after five overs, Renegades consolidated behind opener Josh Brown and put the pressure on the Adelaide bowlers.
Brown had belted 66 from 41 balls, with five fours and six sixes, and at halfway the Renegades were looking solid at 80 for 2. But legspinner Cameron Boyce had him caught at long-off in the 14th over and that proved a massive turning point.
From a solid-enough 100 for 4, Renegades lost all momentum and no other batsman scored more than 21.
Opening bowler Henry Thornton was the pick of the attack with 3-20 and after being smacked for 20 off one over, spinner Lloyd Pope rallied and finished with 2-34 from his three overs.
Sutherland looked promising at No.7, hitting a six and a four in his 18, but Pope had him caught behind on video review in a significant blow. Alex Ross captained Strikers after Matthew Short was ruled out again because of a toe injury.