Scorchers' attack flips the tables in power surge

It is supposed to be a batting powerplay but when teams have faced off against the undefeated Perth Scorchers this season it has always seemed to go the other way.

The Scorchers bowling line-up is arguably the best in the competition, with their ability to strangle opposition batters one of the main reasons why they are yet to lose a game in KFC BBL|11.

With players like fast bowler Matthew Kelly, who took 4-28 in the first game of the season, unable to get back into the side, it's easy to see why the Scorchers have been able to dominate opposition batters.

One of the keys to the Scorchers' success has been their knack of taking wickets in the two-over power surge where only two fielders are allowed outside the circle, which goes a long way to stifling any momentum their opponents had built up throughout their innings.

In Perth's four games so far this season their bowlers have taken eight wickets during surge overs while only conceding 8.6 runs per over.

Against the Hobart Hurricanes on Monday night, they took two wickets and only conceded nine runs across the two overs, while against the Adelaide Strikers in their clash at Sydney Showground Stadium on December 11 they took four poles during the surge.

Scorchers spin bowling allrounder Ashton Agar said it was their work at the start of the bowling innings that had led to such successful surge overs.

"Our starts have been so good every game," the left-armer said after the 42-run win over the Hurricanes on Monday.

"We're doing damage in the powerplays, and everyone who comes on after that – their first overs, they're just absolutely nailing it.

"We've got teams behind straight away and then when it comes to the power surge we're so far in front we take a lot of wickets.

"You have to credit the whole bowling group working as a team and I think that's (been) the trademark of the Scorchers in our successful years."

The Scorchers' batters on the other hand have taken their power surge overs in BBL|11 for more than 10 runs per over for the loss of only two wickets.

Agar himself has been in excellent form to start the BBL season and has only conceded 6.3 runs per over with the ball, while also collecting six wickets.

He also fired with the bat as a finisher in the last game against the Hurricanes, striking a couple of lusty sixes in the final over of the innings in a rapid 30 not out off just 11 balls.

"It was nice to finally get a few out of the screws, I've been practicing it a lot lately," the 28-year-old said.

"It's the hardest time to bat coming in at number seven and trying to finish off an so it's really satisfying when that happens. 

"But I guess credit goes to the coaches for throwing me lots of balls in the off-season."

Asked what clicked in his innings of 30 not out on Monday, Agar said he just kept his eyes on the ball for a little bit longer.

"It's pretty easy to lose your shape when you're trying to hit the ball long, but if you can see the ball for as long as you can, and lock that front side in for a little bit longer you're a chance of getting better contact," he said.

"The key (to finishing an innings) is working out what's required, staying calm and trying to do the best job you can.

"You know it's not going to come off all the time but hopefully in the big games or when it's really needed it can come off and that happened (on Monday)."

The Scorchers will be in Melbourne over Christmas with their next two games against the Renegades at Marvel Stadium tonight and December 26. 

Scorchers' power surge

v Hurricanes: Batting – 13 runs, 1 wicket. Bowling – 9 runs, 2 wickets

v Hurricanes: Batting – 22 runs. Bowling – 18 runs, 2 wickets

v Strikers: Batting – 24 runs, 1 wicket. Bowling – 18 runs, 4 wickets

v Heat: Batting – 28 runs. Bowling – 24 runs