Third time lucky as Abbott chills out to blaze brilliant century

DESERT Blaze opening batsman Ben Abbott said he was “over the moon” to finally crack double figures.

And he did it in decisive fashion – with a brilliant 147 from 133 balls in his team’s comfortable six-wicket win over Southern Storm in Round 4 Strike League action at Mar- rara yesterday. Blaze’s win means it should almost be enough to qualify for the final next Sunday.

And importantly for Parramatta first-grader Abbott, he shot to form in the Top End after scores of two and seven.

“I feel over the moon. It was my third game in the Strike League and the first time I got over 10,” Abbott told the Sun- day Territorian. “It was good to start hitting a few sweetly.

“I just chilled out a bit and once I got my first boundary away I felt a bit more relaxed.

“Storm did really well to get to the score (290) they did, and I think we batted really well.”

Storm No.3 Kelvin Smith hit 133 from 107 for the losers.

Meanwhile, Hobart Hurricanes representative and Dar- win Cricket Club star paceman Aaron Summers impressed with 3-48 as his City Cyclones also notched up a comfortable seven-wicket win over Northern Tide (9-197).

“It was a great start for us. We knew we had plenty of batsmen and 200 wasn’t going to be much of an issue,” Summers said.

“I was a bit sore because I played all week (for the Tasmanian Development Squad against the NT XI) and I didn’t know how they were going to come out.

“But I surprised myself and it helped having Dave (Warner, who blasted 36 off 32 balls) here. There was a bit more of a vibe and we all got up for the game.”

Summers’ big scalp was snaring Queensland representative Sam Truloff for 14.

“I was happy to get him. I’ve got him twice at the same spot at point,” Summers said.

“The time I didn’t get him in the Twenty20, he hit me all over the place.”

Brisbane Heat representative Chris Sabburg’s classy 91 off 117 wasn’t enough to get Tide to a competitive score.