Johnson makes light work of one-handed miracle catch

PERTH’S Mitchell Johnson took himself back to the days of taking one-handed screamers diving into the backyard pool as the Scorchers leapfrogged Adelaide back to the top of the Big Bash League ladder.

The Scorchers cruised to victory in the second last over. However, the game’s highlight yesterday came off Ashton Agar’s worst ball in the top-ofthe-table clash, as Jake Lehmann attempted to scoop a low full toss from the left-arm spinner.

The ball lobbed to short fine leg where Johnson dived to his unnatural right side to hold on to the ball one handed, even after his elbow hit the ground.

“I said to him in the innings break that was a really good catch – an absolute hanger,” Agar said. “And he said ‘I felt like I was in the backyard again diving trying to take onehanders into the pool’.”

The Strikers missed their best chance to send a scare through Perth’s camp at 4-90 after Peter Siddle overstepped in the 16th over, costing him Cartwright’s wicket.

“He (Siddle) didn’t realise at all and neither did Hilts (Cartwright),” said Agar, who was at the other end.

“Sids (Siddle) gave a big roar and he was pretty happy and then, as soon as there was a no-ball, Hilts gave out an even bigger roar. He hit the next ball over the rope.”