Matt Short has blasted the Adelaide Strikers' fastest century and anchored the BBL's second-highest team score as they hammered Brisbane by 56 runs.
Saturday night's record-breaking win at Adelaide Oval keeps the Strikers in finals contention and gives their net run rate a crucial boost.
Returning from a broken toe that sidelined him for three games, Short belted 109 from 54 balls. He brought up his ton in 49 balls, a team record.
109 runs.
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 11, 2025
54 balls.
17 boundaries.
That was EPIC from Matt Short! #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/BEoBJdVBpd
Adelaide scored 5-251 in front of 27,212 fans, easily beating their previous best of 3-230 and second only to the Melbourne Stars' 2-273 three years ago.
The Heat, fourth before Saturday's loss, were never in the hunt. D'Arcy Short took his fourth wicket with the last ball of the game as Brisbane were dismissed for 195.
Brisbane slumped from 4-146 to 9-158 before Spencer Johnson (27) and Matt Kuhnemann put up some late resistance.
The flat pitch yielded 26 sixes for the game - seven of them to Matt Short - equalling the BBL record.
One of them, hit by Brisbane's Nathan McSweeney off Liam Haskett, was caught in the crowd by the bowler's dad.
No way!
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 11, 2025
Liam Haskett got hit for six by Nathan McSweeney. The guy in the crowd that caught the catch?
His DAD 😆 #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/qyVVGXNGxt
The win took Adelaide off the bottom of the ladder and improved their net run rate from -0.299 to +0.092.
Short's ton is the second-highest Strikers' score. He holed out to Xavier Bartlett off Mitchell Swepson on the square boundary, and had his shot been a little cleaner, Short would have equalled Jake Weatherald's record 115.
"You get frustrated. It's hard sitting on the sidelines, especially as captain," Short said of his injury spell.
"It's nice to be back and get back on the winners' list. Hopefully we can carry this on and you never know what can happen at the end of the tournament."
Saturday was also the first time in the BBL that three 200-plus scores have been posted on the same day, following the Sydney Sixers-Perth Scorchers run-fest at the SCG.
Adding to Brisbane's worries, captain Colin Munro was forced from the field when he hurt his shoulder and then dislocated a finger in successive overs.
Munro was then dismissed for a second-ball duck.
Short's opening partner Chris Lynn did not field because of hamstring tightness while he was batting and he will need scans.
Adelaide lost the toss, but that did not bother Short or Lynn, who were merciless as they hammered the Brisbane attack in front of a healthy home crowd.
They racked up 121 in only 8.5 overs, before Test squad inclusion Kuhnemann bowled Lynn for 47.
Lynn racked up five fours and three sixes in his whirlwind 20-ball knock.
Playing his first BBL game this season, Test keeper Alex Carey only made 13 before Kuhnemann bowled him as well.
An unbeaten 44 from 19 balls by Alex Ross ensured the record Adelaide score.
Kuhnemann was the pick of the Heat attack, snaring 3-50 from four overs.
McSweeney gave the Heat some hope with 43 and Matt Renshaw clubbed three sixes off a Lloyd Pope over in his quick-fire 34.
But Brisbane then fell in a heap, with D'Arcy Short claiming 4-15 from three overs.
