Happy new year for the Strike force

AN outstanding all-round display from Michael Neser has guided Adelaide Strikers to a thumping 56-run New Year’s Eve victory over Brisbane Heat in front of 46,594 spectators at Adelaide Oval.

Neser followed his careerbest unbeaten 40 with 2-7 with the ball, including the key scalp of Heat skipper Brendon McCullum, as the Strikers comfortably defended their 7-147 to catapult to top spot on the BBL table.

The Heat was bowled out for only 91 in 16.2 overs after its top order was blown away, the visitors’ stunning 4-7 collapse in the space of 14 deliveries leaving it reeling at 4-15.

The batting collapse was not without controversy though, with teenage leggie Rashid Khan contentiously dismissing Heat master blaster Chris Lynn, caught behind for a three-ball duck.

The laid-back Lynn looked noticeably annoyed as the umpire raised his finger, with television replays suggesting no contact was made with the ball by his bat, which scraped the ground.

Former Test opener Joe Burns (1) was undone by a searing Billy Stanlake short ball, miscuing a skied ball to Rashid, before man-of-thematch Neser skittled exStriker Alex Ross (1) with his first delivery of the night.

Brisbane held a glimmer of hope while McCullum was still in the middle but when the Kiwi talisman hit Neser down Jake Lehmann’s throat at long-on for a subdued 15, the Heat was 6-56 and it was over.

Earlier, Neser’s aggressive batting steered the Strikers out of trouble after wily Pakistan legspinner Yasir Shah (2-8) had applied the clamps in an impressive BBL debut.