They may be temporarily homeless, but the Perth Scorchers loom as the team to beat this BBL season after crushing the Hobart Hurricanes for the second time in the space of a week.
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Six days after posting a 53-run win over the Hurricanes, the Scorchers followed it up with a 42-run pummelling on Monday night.
Both games were played at the Hurricanes' fortress of Blundstone Arena, with the results lifting the Scorchers to the top of the table with a perfect 4-0 record.
Opener Kurtis Patterson cracked a BBL career-best 78 off 48 balls and Ashton Agar (30 not out off 11 balls) added some lusty blows at the death to lift the Scorchers to 7-167.
In reply, the Hurricanes crawled to 9-125, with tailender Wil Parker (25 not out off 17 balls) top scoring in a dismal batting effort from Hobart.
Patterson didn't take to the field for Hobart's innings because of a tight left quad.
The Scorchers have been on the road for the past three matches due to Western Australia's hard border, and they'll spend the rest of the season away from Perth even if they earn hosting rights for the finals.
Not that it looks like it's bothering them.
Scorchers paceman AJ Tye continued his stunning season on the way to 3-19 off his four overs, while spinners Peter Hatzoglou (2-29) and Agar (2-31) also played key roles.
"Can't complain when we go four for four," Tye told Fox Sports.
"It's a bit disappointing we didn't keep our record of bowling teams out, but we'll take the nine-for."
Hurricanes wicketkeeper Matthew Wade paid dearly for a missed stumping when Patterson was on 27.
Patterson made the most of the reprieve, blasting six fours and five sixes in a knock that gave the Scorchers the momentum.
The Hurricanes made a surprise decision to sub out star paceman Riley Meredith at the 10-over mark.
Meredith, in his return from a hamstring injury, bowled the first over of the game and snared the wicket of Josh Inglis on the way to figures of 1-1.
"He wasn't due to play this game," Hurricanes coach Adam Griffith said.
"But he went really well with his rehab, so we were keen to try to sneak one over out of him and then sub him out to get him ready to go for the next game."
Meredith was subbed out for X-factor Jordan Thompson, who went on to take 3-33 from his four overs.
Fellow paceman Tom Rogers (2-21 off four overs) snared the key scalps of Mitch Marsh (21 off 21 balls) and Ashton Turner (12) to help stem the tide during a crucial part of the innings.
Australian Associated Press
