Mitch Marsh after making his unbeaten century. Picture: cricket.com.au
Tuesday’s BBL game was the furthest place away from Dubai, but Mitch Marsh was still in his match-winning form from the T20 World Cup.
On his return for the Scorchers after playing with Australia A, “the Bison” made his inaugural BBL century (100* off 60 balls) to steer Perth to a 53 run victory over Hobart at Blundstone Arena.
While wickets fell around him early as the Hurricanes got off to a hot start with ball in hand, Marsh remained resolute and gave himself a platform to launch in the back-half of the innings.
Given his explosive return to the BBL and recent 60 off 27 balls for Australia A, a call-up to the Test arena to play in the Ashes could be beckoning.
Mills fires in BBL and Hobart return:
Pace bowler Tymal Mills (3/21) not only made his return to the BBL on Tuesday night but did it at the same venue he’d previously called home.
Before he was a Scorcher, the Englishman was with the Hurricanes for what can only be described as a frustrating stint.
Mills underperformed in his first season with the club, ultimately being left out of the side for its finals run in 2017.
Before he had a chance to bounce back the following season in BBL|08, a hamstring injury meant he missed the entire year and never pulled on purple again.
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But since leaving the league, Mills has become an important part of England’s T20 setup, taking seven wickets at the World Cup before getting injured, and has starred in The Hundred.
This was on full display in his first game for Perth, when he dispatched Caleb Jewell early and removed Ben McDermott (41 off 29) as Hobart was just starting to gain momentum.
“It was nice to build back up again and start well, maybe it was a little bit sweeter coming back here and bowling well,” Mills said post-match.
“When I played here a few years ago I don’t think I maybe bowled as well as I could have, so I was keen to maybe right a few wrongs.”
Hobart’s bowling concerns continue:
Tuesday’s loss could be even more impactful for the Hurricanes after their already depleted bowling stocks took another hit when Joel Paris got injured.
Hobart has been without some of its best bowlers to start the season, meaning it’s had to call on the likes of D’Arcy Short and Tim David to carry more overs.
Scott Boland had been away playing for Australia A, while quick Riley Meredith is still out with a hamstring injury.
But after just getting Boland back on Tuesday, disaster struck when Paris injured his groin in the third over.
The former Scorcher was unable to return to the field, and because he got injured in his second over Hobart couldn’t activate its x-factor to replace him.
While the spin combination of Short, David, and Sandeep Lamichhane battled manfully early, Paris’ loss was felt later in the innings.
Short was forced to bowl at the death in the 19th over, going for 25 runs as Marsh punished him.
“I felt like we could make up his overs,” Ben McDermott said on Paris’ injury.
“It’s a tough one, he’s a gun Joely and he’s got experience around the traps now.
“To lose him was disappointing, but hopefully it’s not for the tournament.”
The team will be sweating on when Meredith and Paris will be right to return, though McDermott said Meredith could be back around the Christmas Eve game against the Stars.
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