Canberra cricketer Jason Behrendorff made a Big Bash debut he won't forget, taking the wicket of the tournament's leading run-scorer, Aaron Finch, in his first over for the Perth Scorchers in front of 14,000 people at the WACA Ground on Saturday night.
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Behrendorff only found out he was in the final XI when the team arrived at the ground on Saturday, but grabbed his opportunity with gusto as the Scorchers won by 51 runs.
''It was definitely the biggest crowd I played in front of and I loved every minute of it - I couldn't take the smile off my face,'' Behrendorff said of the experience.
The former Tuggeranong left-hander took the biggest scalp in the game when the Melbourne Renegades' Finch edged the last ball of the second over to keeper Tom Triffitt in a game-changing moment.
His screams of delight when he claimed the wicket of Finch for eight runs were picked up by the TV microphones as he celebrated.
''I was really happy to get Finchy out - I spoke to JL [Justin Langer] and Simon Katich before the game and they were saying my role was to take the new ball and swing the ball and try and get rid of Finchy and I did that,'' the 22-year-old said. ''He's in great form, he's hitting the ball well and I think he's the leading run-scorer in the tournament as well, so definitely a nice scalp to have.''
Behrendorff went on to dismiss Ben Rohrer, the perfect response after Rohrer scored 23 runs in one over at the Canberran's expense, blowing out his final figures to 3-44.
''I got smacked around in my third over, that was really tough, but that's something I learnt from and hopefully I'll become better for it.''
Rohrer was looking dangerous as he chased the Scorchers' total of 187, having brought up his half-century with another four just before Behrendorff got his revenge. Two balls later he claimed the scalp of fellow Canberran William Sheridan for a golden duck, showing no signs of pressure as Perth cruised to its third straight victory.
In the meantime, the news of Mike Hussey's retirement from Test cricket had a silver lining in the west, and Behrendorff looks forward to spending more time with Mr Cricket in the domestic competition.
''It's fantastic when 'Huss' is around, he's such a great guy and he really knows what he's talking about - if you don't listen to him then you're a bit silly, so it'll be great to have him back around the group.''
■ CANBERRA'S Ryan Carters scored nine runs off 17 balls for the Sydney Thunder in their four-wicket loss to the Sydney Sixers at ANZ Stadium on Sunday night.
Carters arrived at the crease with the Thunder in trouble at 4-27 in the seventh over. He put on 29 off 31 balls for the fifth wicket with Usman Khawaja (66 not out off 47) to help steady the home team's innings, and the Thunder eventually made 6-132.
Youngster Daniel Hughes top-scored for the Sixers with an unbeaten 51 as they reached the target with six balls to spare.
Carters still kept wicket despite the Thunder boasting star English gloveman Matt Prior in its line-up. Prior played as a batsman but only made four runs.
The Thunder remain winless and last on the table.
