Neil Broom’s thunderbolt hundred doused the Perth Scorchers as Otago Volts continued its unbeaten run in the Champions League Twenty20 with a 62-run victory here.
With a moderate career strike rate of 112.08 in domestic T20 matches, the Kiwi opener is anything but a power-hitter. Yet, on a hot day at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, the Kiwi opener displayed his liking for an occasional hammering of the opposition.
Two early wickets notwithstanding, Otago powered to a benumbing total of 242 in 20 overs.
After scoring only 32 off his first 28 deliveries, Broom shifted gears in no time to hit the tournament’s first century in 51 balls. Nine 4s and eight 6s adorned the 29-year-old’s knock.
Paris strikes
Perth, expectedly, chose to bowl and Paris took wickets off his first two balls to leave Otago at nine for two in the third over.
However, the Australians hardly helped their cause afterwards. Both Derek de Boorder (on 0) and Ryan ten Doeschate (3) were dropped very early in their innings.
After scoring only 50 in the first nine overs, Otago pummelled 192 in the last 11 as boundaries arrived with astonishing ease. If Perth had any chance of chasing down the imposing total, it was extinguished when the Aussies were reduced to 11 for three within the first two overs.
