Match No- 31 of the ongoing Big Bash League between Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat turned out to be a high-scoring encounter. Playing in Adelaide on Saturday, the Strikers registered a massive 56-run victory as they posted 251/5 in 20 overs, after being asked to bat first. In return, the Heat put up a good fight but gout bundled out for 195. For Strikers, Matthew Short was the star performer with his 109-run knock. However, a moment from Strikers’ bowler Liam Haskett became the highlight of the day.

During the 4th over of the Heat’s chase, Nathan McSweeney hammered a pull shot over the deep square leg off Liam Haskett. The ball simply went for a six but in the crowd, it was caught by Haskett’s father. He then grabbed the ball and threw it back on the ground.

No way!

Liam Haskett got hit for six by Nathan McSweeney. The guy in the crowd that caught the catch?

His DAD #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/qyVVGXNGxt

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 11, 2025

Former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, who was commentating during the match with Michael Vaughan and Michael Hussey, was also taken aback by the sheer co-incidence.

Talking about the match, the Strikers posted a whopping total of 251/5 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first. For Strikers, Matthew Short scored 109 off 54 balls while Chris Lynn and Alex Ross scored 47 and 44 runs respectively.

For the Heat, Matthew Kuhnemann and Mitchell Swepson took three and two wickets respectively.

Later in the chase, the Heat kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and got bundled out for 195. Nathan McSweeney was the star batter as he scored 43 off 23 balls.

Apart from McSweeney, Matt Renshaw 34 off 16 balls while Spencer Johnson scored 27 off 13 balls.

For the Strikers, D Arcy Short was the pick among the bowlers as he registered a four-wicket haul. Liam Haskett and Lloyd Pope also took wickets each while Jordan Buckingham scalped one wicket.

The Strikers will now be squaring off against Sydney Sixers for their next Big Bash League match on Wednesday in Adelaide. On the other hand, the Heat will be taking on Hobart Hurricanes on Thursday.

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Australian cricket team coach Andrew McDonald said on Tuesday that charismatic young batter Jake Fraser-McGurk and all-rounder Matthew Short have been added as travelling reserves with the squad for the T20 World Cup in the Americas because they bring something different to the table. Fraser-McGurk, 22, in only his debut IPL season, gave an excellent display of explosive batsmanship for Delhi Capitals smashing four half-centuries in nine games at an astronomical strike rate exceeding 234.

He hit 330 runs, including 32 boundaries and 28 maximums, prompting several Australian greats to pitch for his inclusion in the 15-member squad. But after being overlooked for the World Cup in the West Indies and USA next month, he has been finally included as a travelling reserve.

“I think they’re (Fraser-McGurk and Short) slightly different in what they offer. Fraser is an out-and-out opener and the way we’ve grown Matthew Short into the team is through the middle order and that spin (bowling) ability as well,” McDonald told Sen Radio.

McDonald indicated that Short could come in handy in the event of Glenn Maxwell getting injured.

“We feel like he’s (Short) a spinning all-rounder much like Glenn Maxwell if anything should move there, and obviously Jake Fraser-McGurk is an out-and-out top order player,” added McDonald.

The two reserves will, however, not be able to play unless there is an injury in the squad.

The Australian team is set to fly out for the World Cup on Wednesday.

“Both exciting, I think they both add a lot.

“Those guys sit outside of the 15, the only way they can come onto the selection table is if there was to be an injury, we’ve got two options there depending on what we lose or what may unfold in terms of injuries,” McDonald added.

The coach said that apart from the two players, Australia had several other options as well, should a player in the 15-member squad get injured or indisposed.

“We’ve also got some other options in Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett that are playing in the UK as well, so if we were to lose a bowler those guys are up and running in the UK… and they can come in, it’s only a short flight into the West Indies from England.

On opener David Warner’s fitness concerns, McDonald said the 37-year-old was doing fine.

“No, not at this stage. We believe he’s fully fit, everything he says is he’s fully fit, we know that he missed the last game for Delhi (Capitals in IPL), clearly that was a selection mechanism there with the way they want to play late in the tournament, I think he played the second last round… we have no fears he won’t be fit and fully available..” Australia play their opening group stage match against Oman in Barbados on June 6.