Perth Scorchers opener Cameron Bancroft praised English imports David Payne and Stephen Eskinazi after their breakout Big Bash video games in Friday’s nine-wicket thrashing of Sydney Thunder.
Bancroft hopes the pair can construct on and their performances forward of Sunday’s grand last re-match in opposition to Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon’s Sydney Sixers on the SCG.
Payne starred with the ball on debut and Eskinazi produced his greatest knock of the event because the ladder-leading Scorchers made it three wins on the trot with 43 balls to spare at Sydney Showgrounds.
Gloucestershire left-arm seamer Payne, who got here in for a rested Jason Behrendorff, took simply two balls to strike which set the tone for a dominant bowling efficiency.
The one-time England worldwide backed up his first-over wicket of Matthew Gilkes, drawing the surface edge with a perfectly-placed out-swinger, with one other essential scalp of Daniel Sams to complete with 4-20 from 4 overs to assist roll the hosts for 111.
The Scorchers will face one other choice squeeze, with Behrendorff out there to return in opposition to the Sixers and all 4 seamers taking a number of wickets on Friday.
“I thought Payney was outstanding,” Bancroft mentioned.
“He swung the ball beautifully early to their left-handers and picked up Gilkes in his first over.
“Even bowling at the back-end of the innings as well, he showcased his change-ups and things like that so his confidence will be huge from that and hopefully it’s something he can build on for the remainder of the tournament.”
Middlesex captain and Claremont-Nedlands product Eskinazi is one other who will take a lot out of his efficiency after bouncing again from a lean begin to the event with a robust and stylish knock.
After scores of 1 and 11 in his first two appearances since changing countryman Adam Lyth on the prime of the order, the 28-year-old blasted 40 from 26 balls to announce himself on the BBL stage.
He mixed with top-scorer Bancroft (55no off 40) for the Scorchers’ greatest opening stand of the event, 77 from 53 balls, to setup the run chase, hitting 5 boundaries throughout the bottom to go together with a surprising ramp shot for six.
“He played really nicely,” Bancroft.
“He’s a very classy player and looks really nice on the eye and has got some nice little tricks as well.
“In the games so far he’s looked good and looked ominous and in the practice games he played really nicely.
“We know what Stevie brings and I think he’ll take a lot of confidence out of his performance and hopefully he can build on that.”
