WATCH | Sean Abbott concedes 11 runs in 1 ball to gift Perth Scorchers an easy win
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The history of T20 cricket is littered with carcasses of bowlers bottling up things in the last over and Sean Abbott’s latest shenanigans will definitely make him a first ballot hall of famer in the category. With Perth needing 9 runs to win in the last over, Abbott managed to give 11 in one ball.
After Sydney Sixers ended their first innings with a not-so-competitive total of 167 runs in 20 overs, the match seemed there for the taking for Perth Scorchers. However, the hosts looked to make an even bigger mess out of it as they lost two early wickets in David Willey and Hilton Cartwright.Â
The topsy-turvy match took another turn following it, as Michael Klinger and Ashton Turner went to forge a 96-run partnership to set their side up for an easy victory before both of them returned to the pavilion with Scorchers needing just 14 runs in seven balls.
However, the volatile nature of the game got its biggest anti-climax, which it didn’t deserve, in the last over when Abbott came on to bowl with the Scorchers needing just nine runs to win. Despite the little road remaining, Sixers still had a pinch of hope of turning things around as has been the case multiple times in T20 cricket.
But, little did they know that their death-over specialist was not the man by miles, upon whom they could pin their hopes on Monday. Abbott’s first delivery, which was quite fuller, went for a boundary wide off Adam Voges, with wicketkeeper Peter Nevill’s attempting dive going in vain. Five off the first ball, which wasn’t even legal, left Scorchers with little to worry about and Abbott under tremendous pressure.Â
The New South Wales bowler then ranked a full-toss as Voges moved across to swipe it across the line. He got a thick and fat top-edge, which saw the ball fly well over the keeper’s head and far enough to go all the way over the ropes. Perth won the game by six wickets, scoring 11 balls in just one ball.
