Lynn's fireworks get Strikers over the line in NYE clash for first time since 2018
Former Brisbane star Chris Lynn clobbers the Adelaide Strikers to an easy victory over the Heat in the New Year's Eve Big Bash League clash.
The Adelaide Strikers have snapped a seven-year BBL New Year's Eve hoodoo with Chris Lynn powering them to a resounding seven-wicket victory over the Brisbane Heat.
After skittling the Heat for 121 in 19.4 overs at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday night, the Strikers romped home with 35 deliveries to spare.
Master blaster Lynn, playing his 300th T20, thumped six fours and six sixes in an unbeaten 79 off 41 balls to pilot the clinical chase.
It was the Strikers' first win in the marquee December 31 clash since 2018, and swift payback for their seven-run loss to Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday.
"Started very well with a few wickets in the powerplay," Adelaide's English import Jamie Overton said.
"To keep picking up wickets was great.
"Then obviously very clinical from Lynny to see us over the line quite comfortably."
Captain Matt Short (19), Mackenzie Harvey (11) and Jerrssis Wadia (one) perished, but the Heat could not contain Lynn.
He became the first BBL batter to reach 4,000 runs, fittingly raising the milestone by depositing Xavier Bartlett into the stands.
Lynn raised his record-extending 32nd BBL half-century off 30 deliveries before smoking Matthew Kuhnemann for three successive sixes near the finish.
Earlier, Brisbane crashed to 5-21 in the sixth over, before Kuhnemann (T20 career-best 31no) and Hugh Weibgen (28) avoided total embarrassment.
Jamie Overton (3-19), Liam Scott (2-12) and Hassan Ali (2-29) were the pick of the Strikers attack.
Scott, sparingly used in Adelaide's opening two fixtures, took the new rock and bowled all his allotted four overs up-front.
The Heat's top three — Colin Munro (four), Jack Wildermuth (five) and Lachlan Hearne (two) — all succumbed in identical fashion, miscuing tamely to mid off.
Golden bat leader Matt Renshaw (six) was run out, before Max Bryant (one) nicked off to Scott.
When Jimmy Peirson (13) chopped on to Hassan Ali, Brisbane were 6-47.
Kuhnemann — whose previous career-best was 9no — took the long handle to Lloyd Pope and put on 36 for the eighth wicket with Weibgen, but their team's hole was too deep.
"We didn't make enough runs, and we could have bowled a little better as well," Kuhnemann said.
"Just need to clean up all areas of the game."
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