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Marsh injured as Scorchers crush Hobart

3 minute read

Perth Scorchers star Mitch Marsh will undergo scans on Wednesday after suffering a suspected side strain while bowling against the Hobart Hurricanes.

MITCHELL MARSH of the Scorchers.
MITCHELL MARSH of the Scorchers. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

The Perth Scorchers have soared to their fifth straight BBL win but it came at a cost after Mitch Marsh went off injured during the nine-wicket triumph over the Hobart Hurricanes.

Chasing just 140 for victory in front of 23,609 fans at Optus Stadium on Tuesday, the Scorchers cruised to the target with 22 balls to spare.

Openers Jason Roy (74no off 52 balls) and Liam Livingstone (54 off 39) overcame scratchy starts to find some much-needed form, combining for a 123-run stand.

Marsh bowled just three balls before walking off with a suspected side strain midway through the sixth over of Hobart's innings.

The 29-year-old will undergo scans on Wednesday to determine the extent of the damage.

If Marsh is able to return this BBL season, it's likely to be as a batsman only.

"There's always a bit of distress when there's injury," Scorchers coach Adam Voges told Channel 7.

"Hopefully it won't ... keep him out too long, particularly as a batter, but obviously a bit of distress at the moment."

The bonus-point win lifted Perth into third spot, while Hobart's third straight loss saw them slip to fifth.

Hobart won the bat flip and elected to bat but managed just 5-139 after making a disastrous start.

The Hurricanes were restricted to 2-15 from their opening four-over powerplay as Jhye Richardson (1-23 off four overs) and Jason Behrendorff (1-21 off three) tightened the screws.

Richardson had figures of 1-2 off his first two overs, with the competition's leading runscorer Ben McDermott (2) his prized scalp after the opener chopped the ball onto his stumps.

Hobart meandered to 3-50 after 10 overs before D'Arcy Short (54 off 47) and Tim David (31no off 23) lifted the run rate.

Short entered the match in need of a big score after a series of failures this season and his measured knock ensured Hobart at least reached a defendable total.

Perth openers Livingstone and Roy rode their luck early.

Livingstone was dropped by Short at backward point when he was yet to score, while Roy had a series of lucky edges or near misses.

But their confidence grew as the runs started flowing, with the Scorchers needing less than seven overs to snare the bonus point.

The loss of Marsh for the Scorchers is a massive blow, with the star allrounder almost certain to miss Saturday's encounter against the ladder-leading Sydney Sixers in Canberra.

Marsh had been in hot form this season, averaging 46.75 with the bat at a strike rate of 143, and 18.75 with the ball at an economy rate of 6.81.

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