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More to red-hot Scorchers than Mitch Marsh

3 minute read

Mitch Marsh's departure for Australia's Test squad hasn't dampened the high-flying ways of the Perth Scorchers, whose depth is the envy of their BBL rivals.

MITCHELL MARSH.
MITCHELL MARSH. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

On Tuesday night it was Aaron Hardie. Two days earlier at St Kilda's Junction Oval it was Peter Hatzoglou.

The high-flying Perth Scorchers continue to find crucial across-the-board contributions from all angles, proving they are more than just the Mitch Marsh Show.

Talisman Marsh has been in the form of his life, bagging player-of-the-match honours in Australia's T20 World Cup final triumph over New Zealand last November in Dubai and starting this season's BBL campaign with 255 runs at 85.

That earned him Ashes squad selection for the fourth Test in Sydney.

But the ladder-leading Scorchers have shown they are just as capable of winning without their dynamic allrounder as with him.

They have forged into outright competition favouritism following last night's 10-run win over the second-ranked Sydney Sixers in which Hardie hit 45 off 24 balls.

"There has been a lot of talk about Mitch Marsh and rightly so," Perth captain Ashton Turner said.

"But I think, under the radar, a lot of our other guys have done an amazing job.

"We've had an even spread of run-getters and an even spread of wicket-takers.

"Everyone who has come in after not playing has had an impact.

"That holds us in really good stead for the back end of the tournament."

Originally preparing for a stoush with the Sydney Thunder this Thursday at Metricon Stadium, Turner's charges only found out at midday on Tuesday they would need to pad up in a matter of hours against the Sixers, replacing at short notice original opponent Brisbane Heat who had to pull out due to positive COVID-19 cases.

"To get a call at lunchtime to ask if we'd be willing to play today, I couldn't be more proud of the guys for the way they stepped up and got their heads around the initial shock," Turner said.

"We were able to turn up and get our mind on the job and get the job done.

"It was an amazing performance."

Veteran Sixers Twenty20 maestro Dan Christian did his best to almost steal the match from the Scorchers' grasp by following his miserly spell of 2-14 off four overs with a brilliant 73 with the bat.

"It was nice for me personally to get some runs and Jordan Silk (16) to get some runs," Christian said.

"We certainly didn't play our best game but we still took them to the last over.

"We can still take out some positives."

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