A gradual but inevitable descent into cricket-based loathing and bile.

KFC Big Bash: Round Four Review

Posted on January 6, 2012 by in T20

 

We’ll be honest. Much as we love the KFC Big Bash, we’ve had other stuff going on over the last few days. For a start we’ve been watching the first two series of Misfits, plus there’s the small matter of two Test matches going on simultaneously. Laughing at India has taken up a fair bit of time recently, leaving very little space for watching chicken-related T20 cricket. But we’ll persevere and see if we can’t come up with enough cheap jokes about Steve Smith to keep everybody happy.
 
 
First up, the New Year’s Day game between Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder. Thanks to a combination of gin and some old bottles of Reef that we found in a layby, we can’t remember any of New Year’s Day, let alone what happened in this match. Based on the scorecards it looks like the Thunder ballsed it up horribly yet again. While Chris Gayle made another fine 53, the rest of his team let him down horribly, with Sean Abbot (39) the only other player to hit a boundary. A score of 138 was well below par and was comfortably chased down, thanks to Owais Shah’s surprisingly composed 42 from 31 balls.

All in all, this was probably a one day game that we’d have quickly forgotten, had we remembered it in the first place.
 
 
Moving on, the following day saw Melbourne Renegade take on Sydney Sixers and beat them even more comfortably. The Sixers’ total of 161 was decent but not spectacular, as a series of batsmen got in and then got out again. Amongst them was Steve Smith, whose 25 from 23 balls was reasonable enough for us to lay off abusing him for a bit.

In reply Brad Hodge and Andrew McDonald smashed their way through the Sixers attack, finishing with eight wickets and fourteen balls to spare. Pick of the bowlers wasn’t Steve Smith, who took 0/37 from his four overs. Plus he has a stupid face.

Steve Smith models the new Sydney Sixers kit

By Tuesday, our hangover had actually worn off and we were able to enjoy Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers. This was a pretty routine victory for the away side, racking up 166/4 and bowling Brisbane out for 135. We were rather chuffed to see Alfonso Thomas doing a decent job. Anyone that hangs around Taunton is alright by us.
 
Last but not least, we bunked out of work early on Wednesday to watch Perth Scorchers’ trip to Melbourne Stars. The Scorchers’ innings of 136 all out was memorable for an incredible collapse. With an over to go they were 134/5 before losing five wickets in the last over. As finishes go, it was a spectacularly bad one.

 

 

Paul Collingwood’s disappointing run continued, making just 12. In the field he then dropped two absolute sitters in the covers. Notwithstanding these abberations, Perth still managed to restrict the Stars to 128/5. This was despite, or perhaps because of, the best efforts of Luke Wright, who made a mighty 16 from 19 balls before being run out. Even while keeping wickets in hand the Stars simply couldn’t get the run rate up at the end of the innings, despite Matt Wade making 53*. Wade’s name is one we’ve heard banded around a few times as a potential wicketkeeper for the national side. He certainly has the advantage over Tim Paine of not having a disabled sticker for his car.

 

Final thoughts

We’re halfway through the Big Bash group stage now, and the excitement is starting to wear off a bit. While most of the games have been close, there’s been a lack of truly gripping games and moments that stick in the mind. Plus we’re bloody sick of eating bucket after bucket of chicken. For the next round of games, we might have to disobey the sponsors and get a McDonalds instead. If you or one/all of your family members can get us a staff discount, drop us a message via the comments box below.

 

3 Comments

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1

Matthew L

06 Jan 2012 17:31

I tweeted Steve Smith the other day linking him to the site and he didn’t reply. Ungrateful really

2

Nichael Bluth

06 Jan 2012 13:00

KFC are doing really well. Chicken Treat have done okay, due to their exclusivity deal at the WACA. Hungry Jacks has been hit really hard, while Red Rooster are closing stores like it’s going out of fashion.

3

Matt H

06 Jan 2012 11:56

I’ve read each of these reviews of the Big Bash, but couldn’t tell you which team is doing well. That’s the problem with a) city names rather than the states, especially when Sydney and Melbourne have two teams b) silly names like Sixers and Heat and c) little connection between players and side.

Keep up the good work in bashing Steve Smith though.