The Perth Scorchers have overcome a masterclass bowling display from Spencer Johnson to secure a crushing 33-run BBL win over the Brisbane Heat in front of 41,921 fans at Optus Stadium.
The Scorchers posted 6-165 in Thursday night’s clash, with power hitter Nick Hobson blasting an unbeaten 47 off 16 balls to help the hosts recover from a sluggish start.
Johnson starred for Brisbane with a career-best 4-20 from four overs.
In reply, the Heat were bowled out for 132 in 19.4 overs, with only Matthew Renshaw (36 off 24 balls) and Max Bryant (35 off 20 balls) able to get on a roll.
The result improved Perth’s record to 2-2, while the Heat are now 2-1 following their first defeat of the season.
The Heat slumped to 3-22 in the fifth over of their run chase after Tom Banton (7), Jimmy Peirson (1) and Colin Munro (6) departed cheaply.
Ashton Agar’s effort to run out Peirson sent the crowd wild.
Agar dived full length at gully to reel in the racing ball with his right hand. He then switched the ball to his left hand and swivelled on his knees in the one action before throwing down the stumps.
Momentum slightly turned back Brisbane’s way when Scorchers wicketkeeper Matty Hurst dropped two catches.
Renshaw was on just four when Hurst grassed an edge off the bowling of Agar.
Moments later Nathan McSweeney (8) was dropped on five, with the ball just popping out of Hurst’s glove following his acrobatic diving effort down the leg side.
Renshaw unleashed a series of huge blows after that to get the scoreboard ticking along.
But the Heat were on the back foot yet again when Scorchers import Finn Allen threw down the stumps from backward point to run out McSweeney at the non-striker’s end.
That moment of magic reduced Brisbane to 4-62 in the ninth over, and when Renshaw holed out in the deep, the Heat were 5-73 and not in a position to launch another counter-attack.
Agar finished with 1-14 from his four overs as Perth’s standout bowler.
Earlier, Allen’s disastrous start to his time at the Scorchers continued, with the NZ blaster out for a five-ball duck.
It followed on from scores of six, four and 0.
Johnson had figures of 1-0 after nine deliveries, and his miserly spell helped Brisbane restrict Perth to 1-18 from the four-over power play.
Hurst (28 off 25 balls), Cooper Connolly (37 off 37) and Aaron Hardie (24 off 23) all struggled for fluency.
Johnson had figures of 2-4 off 2.5 overs before he was scooped for six by Ashton Turner (22 off 13).
But the real danger man ended up being Hobson, who cracked five sixes and two fours in an electrifying knock that helped lift Perth to a respectable total.
Hobson smacked Xavier Bartlett for 24 runs in the final over, with the first four deliveries being a 6, 4, 6, 6.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/cricket/johnsons-4-20-not-enough-for-heat-against-scorchers-c-17205040
