A stunning cameo from Brendan Doggett wasn't enough to get the Adelaide Strikers over the line in their New Year's Eve clash with the Perth Scorchers earlier this week, as the fast bowler continued his brilliant season that has seen him leap into national team contention.
Having seen his teammates fall in remarkable fashion at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday night, Doggett, who has been in and around the Australian test squad this summer but has only played the two BBL games, took the Strikers from 8-58 to 8-142.
The Worimi quick shared a record-breaking 84-run partnership off 60 balls for the ninth wicket with Cameron Boyce, contributing 47 not out from just 39 deliveries, with five boundaries and two massive sixes.
Doggett's innings easily eclipsed his previous BBL high score of 10 and briefly elevated the silence across the city of churches into cheers, as the stunned home fans roared with delight.
It helped take the Strikers to a below par score, but far higher than the disaster they were set to post, in front of a crowd of 41,624.
With the ball Doggett took 1/19 from his three overs, dismissing the rampant Finn Allen, albeit after the New Zealand import had reached a barnstorming half century off just 22 balls.
Chasing the modest total, the scorchers were struggling at 2-5, however Allen and Cooper Connolly combined for an 84-run partnership, taking the game away from Adelaide and winning by seven wickets with 33 balls remaining.
Doggett could have had another wicket when Connolly, the competition's leading run scorer, nicked behind on four to English import Ollie Pope behind the stumps.
However, the 'keeper didn't hear the edge, and with Doggett only offering the slightest of questions to the umpire, the appeal was turned down, with the Strikers choosing not to review.
Doggett, who has struggled for appearances in the shortest form of the game this summer, has nevertheless had a brilliant first half to the summer.
He took 6-15 at an economical 1.36 runs per over for Australia A against India A at Mackay in October, as well as snaring 11 wickets for South Australia across three Shield matches to start the summer.
That includes 5-97 in the first innings of a day/night fixture against Western Australia in Adelaide.
He was called up to the Australian squad for the Adelaide Test in December and remains on the periphery of the side.
