Paris, Turner Lead Scorchers' Charge to Second Place


Joel Paris and Ashton Turner led Perth Scorchers to second spot with a thrilling win over Adelaide Strikers. Paris took 3-22, while Turner smashed an unbeaten 99 off 41 balls, helping Scorchers post 8-202 and restrict Strikers to 120. After Marsh holed out to long-on, Shamsi took off his shoe and held it up like a telephone while pointing to a box in the crowd. Australian T20 star Tim David, who was on commentary duties in Perth after suffering a season-ending hamstring injury, took off his own shoe to answer Shamsi's "call". The two were the team-mates at St Lucia Kings last year in the Caribbean Premier League. Pope snared the scalp of Sam Fanning to reduce the Scorchers to 74 for 3 in the 11th over. And Scorchers were in a world of pain when Pope sent Joel Curtis and Aaron Hardie packing in the 13th over as Perth slumped to 87 for 5. There was hope for the Scorchers in the 15th over when Ashton Turner struck Shamsi for 4, 4, 6 and 4 to start the power surge in the 15th over. But when Shamsi got his revenge by having Turner sky a catch to midwicket and then Pope removed Nick Hobson, Scorchers could only limp to a sub-standard total. The win improved Perth's record to 4-2, while Adelaide slipped to 2-3. Turner, who's been in top form, became the fourth player in BBL history to be left stranded on 99 not out. Paris also contributed with the bat, scoring 20 runs. Perth Scorchers 153 for 8 (Marsh 37, Fanning 31, Pope 4-23, Shamsi 3-30) beat Adelaide Strikers 120 (Scott 33, Short 31, Paris 3-22, Turner 2-1) by 33 runs