Captain Michael Klinger applauded a stunning performance from his Redbacks bowlers after a 10-run win over Queensland on Thursday night saw SA record three consecutive victories and retain top spot on the Big Bash ladder.
Nathan Lyon, Adil Rashid, Aaron O’Brien and Kieron Pollard all took two wickets each to ensure SA clinched victory at Adelaide Oval while Dan Christian was entrusted with bowling the final over with the Bulls needing 21 runs to win.
Lyon combined with wicketkeeper Graham Manou to stump Queensland openers Michael Lumb and Chris Simpson while Rashid took two wickets in his second over to leave the Bulls languishing on 5-69 at the halfway point.
Pollard followed up his excellent run-out with a double and O’Brien’s second wicket saw the Redbacks hold off the Bulls and clinch maximum points.
“I thought all our bowlers did a really good job,” said Klinger.
“We were really disciplined in the field, we missed a couple of chances but that will happen in this format – as long as our intent is good which it was, I’m really happy with the boys.”
“All the spinners did a fantastic job and to be honest everyone did, including Polly and Christo. The boys are ecstatic.”
Klinger also praised the Redbacks’ innings with the bat, particularly man-of-the-match Christian and Dan Harris who posted an 88-run partnership after the skipper was dismissed for six in the first over.
The pair took charge at 1-6 and guided SA to 2-94 before Christian was removed on 41 from 25 balls. Harris top scored for SA with 45 off 36 deliveries with both smashing five boundaries and a six each.
Callum Ferguson was also a worthy contributor with an impressive 38-run cameo to help steer SA to a winning total of 6-159.
“I thought 160 out here was a pretty good score,” he said.
“Obviously losing myself early, Christian coming in with Dan Harris did a really good job to stay really positive after losing an early wicket.”
“Credit to them and credit to the team to follow up and get us to 160 and to defend that was a fantastic effort.”
Pollard failed to fire with the bat for SA, taken for six runs after only 10 deliveries in his final appearance for the Redbacks, ahead of joining his West Indies team-mates for their World Cup preparation.
Klinger admitted the hard-hitting import will be hard to replace but hopes SA’s fringe players can step up in the business end of the Twenty20 campaign.
“He’s going to be a very hard person to replace, especially with his power hitting,” he said.
“His overs have been fantastic for us. We did do very well without him in the Champions League in September and we’ve got the guys on the fringes waiting to come in.”
Queensland looked set to mow down the target set by SA after a solid opening but the Bulls top order folded and the visitors were 3-33 after five overs.
Bulls captain James Hopes admitted Queensland struggled to go on with it after an impressive start.
“We struggled,” he said.
“We did identify that we needed to get off to a quick start … but we lost a couple of wickets and it wasn’t the quickest start, so that backfired on us.”
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