On a night which saw the Adelaide Strikers’ hopes of making this season’s Big Bash League finals dealt a huge blow, Bathurst’s Jono Dean still managed to have a positive.
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After a pair of ducks to start his season, Dean hit 23 off 16 deliveries at the MCG for the Strikers. But as he was just one of three Adelaide players to score more than 20 runs, victory belonged to rivals the Melbourne Stars.
Ben Hilfenhaus (32 off 24) hit the winning runs with three balls to spare, the Stars finishing at 8-153 to clinch a two-wicket victory.
The loss means the Strikers must win their two remaining games against the Melbourne Renegades and defending champions Sydney Thunder to be any chance of qualifying for the finals.
The Strikers lost the toss on Tuesday night and were sent in to bat, Dean listed to come in at number six as he retained his spot in the squad.
When he got his chance the Strikers were struggling at 4-97 in the 14th over, so the pressure was on Dean.
He managed one run off the first six deliveries he faced, but then stepped things up as he cracked three fours and a six.
His 82-metre six was the first of the night and was Dean’s 18th in 14 Big Bash League appearances.
Unfortunately he fell two balls later to Scott Boland when trying to clear the boundary once more.