1. We’re not afraid of big totals
If there’s one thing we’ve gleaned from the last two matches it’s that the Strikers aren’t short on firepower in the batting department.
After chasing down our highest-ever total of 176 against the Sixers on New Year’s Eve, our top order again comfortably reeled in the Heat’s 175-run total with eight wickets in hand last night.
Jayawardena’s 53, Trav’s 50 and Ludeman’s unbeaten 57 also marked the first time in Big Bash history a top three have all made half-centuries, a testament to how well our top-order are performing at the moment.
2. Add ‘tough’ to ‘class’ when describing Jayawardena
He’s one of the greatest batsman of the modern era, but Mahela Jayawardena showed last night what a competitor he is as well as a classical strokemaker.
The former Sri Lankan legend sent a scare through the Strikers camp when he called for medical assistance early in the run chase for what looked like a serious soft tissue injury after pulling up lame from a quick single.
However rather than returning to the bench, the newly promoted opener instead opted to soldier on, bludgeoning his way to a crucial half-century with a series of boundaries and limping between the wickets where required to deliver a man-of-the-match performance and hand the Strikers their third straight win.
3. Adil Rashid’s incredible form continues
It seems as though we’re discussing Adil after almost every match, but the fact is the man just continues to perform!
On a deck which wasn’t particularly well-suited for spinners, Rashid managed to add two more wickets to his season tally – including the critical scalp of Heat skipper Chris Lynn – whilst conceding just 17 runs on a night where our bowling attack struggled to restrict the Heat’s total.
Rashid’s wide array of variations and incredible execution have him sitting at the top of the BBL wicket-takers leaderboard, as well as vying for the title of the best signing of the Big Bash this season.
4. Lehmo has put his throwing demons behind him
You had to feel for Jake Lehmann on New Year’s Eve.
After being picked for his debut BBL match, the young left-hander didn’t get a bat as our top order controlled the innings from start to finish, making his first taste of the action in the field a wayward throw at the stumps that went for four overthrows.
Despite redeeming himself with an incredible catch just a few overs later, Lehmo would have been rapt with this effort to run out Heazlett from the boundary and put his fielding demons behind him.
5. Trav can do no wrong at the moment
There’s no denying that Trav is in incredible form with the bat right now. 202 runs over the past three matches at a strike rate of 180, as well as an incredible 16 sixes has him sitting second on the leading run-scorers ladder with two matches left to play despite a slow start to the season.
But as well as another lightning quick half-century off just 26 balls last night, everything Head touched in the field turned to gold as well.
The 22-year old rising star again was called upon to put an end to a threatening 35-run partnership between Peirson and Reardon, before taking an incredible outfield catch off the bowling of Laughlin to dismiss Floros.
If he’s walking past a newsagent tomorrow, we reckon it would be worth his while buying a lottery ticket while he’s at it.