Cooper Connolly says Perth Scorchers will look to quickly move on from remarkable loss to Brisbane Heat

Perth Scorchers star Cooper Connolly says his side will look to quickly move on from their barely-believable loss to Brisbane Heat, which came after they had hammered their highest ever score. The Scorchers sent the Heat’s bowling attack to all parts of the Gabba in the first innings of the contest on their way to posting an imposing total of 6-257, which stood as the second-highest score in BBL history. But in one of the most remarkable games across the BBL’s 15-year history, centuries to both Jack Wildermuth (110 not out) and Matthew Renshaw (102) pushed Brisbane over their imposing target with one ball to spare. A number of competition records were shattered over the course of the contest, including the highest match aggregate, the highest successful chase and the most sixes hit in an innings — which both teams have a share of after clubbing 18 apiece. Connolly said the Scorchers would not dwell on the result ahead of their next game against Hobart Hurricanes at Optus Stadium on December 26. “It’s one of those games, you push it to the side and you take a couple of things from it and move forward,” Connolly said. “We’ll keep moving forward and we’re looking forward to Boxing Day. “I heard Richo (Jhye Richardson) say in there, it feels like he’s playing in India, because it’s 260 plays 260 every game. It looked like a nice wicket to bat on later on in the night.” A new-look Scorchers bowling attack which regained the services of Richardson was put to the sword by Renshaw and Wildermuth — but only after they had offered both a second chance. Renshaw trudged off after chipping Richardson to mid-on on 20 but was called back when the speedster was shown to have marginally overstepped, while captain Ashton Turner uncharacteristically shelled a skied catching chance offered by Wildermuth on 42. The pair rollicked along at a run rate greater than two-per-ball in their remarkable 212-run partnership, with Connolly saying the best way to stem the flow of runs would have been getting them out. “It’s just moments where you take your catches, take your opportunities, but credit to them, they played really nicely. They played some lovely cricket,” he said. “I think (the lesson) is still looking to take wickets in that middle period, especially when teams are going. The more you take wickets, the harder it is to go at 12, 13 (runs) an over.” Connolly clubbed 77 from just 37 deliveries to help set up his side’s massive total and move to the top of the competition’s early run-scoring leaderboard with 136 across his two games. The 22-year-old, who was also purchased by Punjab Kings for nearly $500,000 at the IPL auction earlier this week, credited his brilliant start to the season to the work he was putting in ahead of games. “I think it’s just preparation, making sure I’m in the right place mentally and physically,” he said. “Whatever I’m doing before the games is all the same, so it keeps consistency and I’ll continue to prepare how I’ve been preparing.” Records broken in Brisbane Heat’s win over Perth Scorchers