Winter Watch (w/e 23 Dec): Jofra Archer & Rashid Khan set BBL alight... again!

It’s an all-Australian affair for this week’s Winter Watch, as grade cricket and the women’s Big Bash continued and the men’s Big Bash got underway.

The two Sussex men involved in the Big Bash got their tournaments off to a scintillating start. Jofra Archer took two wickets in two balls and conceded a meagre 16 runs from his four overs as the Hobart Hurricanes recorded a 15-run win over in their opener against Brisbane Heat on Saturday.

In the early hours of Christmas Eve morning, Jofra followed that up with 3-25 – including halting Glenn Maxwell in his tracks after he had raced to 47 off 31 balls - as the Hurricanes made it two from two with a six-wicket win over Melbourne Stars.

Rashid Khan was in equally spellbinding form for the Adelaide Strikers. His three wickets for just 19 runs against the Heat on the opening night of the competition helped the defending champions to a five-wicket win.

The Strikers were beaten by five wickets in their second match against Melbourne Stars on Sunday, but the margin could have been much bigger if it wasn’t for another incredible performance from Rashid. His four overs cost just 13 runs and included two wickets. After two matches, Rashid has the almost ridiculous economy rate of four runs per over!

Sadly, Tymal Mills’ Big Bash was over before it started. Jofra’s teammate at the Hurricanes suffered a hamstring injury in a warm-up match on the eve of the tournament and has returned home.

Beyond gutted 😪😞. Arrived out here in probably the best shape of my career so to go down before the tournament had begun is so disappointing. Backing the boys all the way and will be supporting from back home @HurricanesBBL 🌪 https://t.co/PlHDzvGQix

— Tymal Mills (@tmills15) December 23, 2018

Danni Wyatt’s excellent form with the bat continued in the Women’s Big Bash. She made 27 off 22 balls and 42 off 34 opening the batting for Melbourne Renegades as they won one and lost one against Perth Scorchers over the weekend.

Georgia Elwiss bowled three tidy overs (0-22) and made a run-a-ball 14 for Melbourne Stars as they beat Adelaide Strikers by four wickets on Friday. The all-rounder was not the only bowler to suffer as the Strikers got their revenge on Sunday. Georgia’s four overs cost 43 runs. She was then dismissed for two as the Stars fell 20 runs short.

Luke Wells was involved in two wins for Casey-South Melbourne in Victorian grade cricket last week. On Tuesday evening, Luke made eight runs and took 1-30 as he captained the Swans to a 29-run win over Kingston Hawthorn ‘Hawks’ in the VIC Super Slam T20 competition. That win takes the Swans up to third in the Stars Conference with two rounds of the group stage remaining.

Luke made his fifth score of 50 or more on Saturday as Casey beat Footscray in a 50-over match. The opener followed his 56 with 1-36 from ten overs as Casey won by 16 runs and moved up into eighth in the Victorian Premier Men’s Firsts league table.

A terrific win for the First XI today as we defeated @footscc by 16 runs. @luke_wells07 56, @JacksonFry1 3/21, @LambdenNathan 3/34. #goswans pic.twitter.com/ymvo7IdvcD

— Casey South Melbourne CC (@CaseySthMelbCC) December 22, 2018

George Garton was Northcote’s best bowler in their 50-over win over Geelong on Saturday. After making eight not out from four balls at the end of Northcote’s innings of 259-8, he took 2-37 from his nine overs and took a catch as Geelong were squeezed out by five runs.