It might have taken him six games to warm up but Michael Carberry has smashed the Perth Scorchers to a convincing eight-wicket Big Bash League win over the Brisbane Heat at the WACA Ground.
Better known as an opening batsman in England's ill-fated 5-0 Ashes defeat last summer in Australia, Carberry has been a strong Twenty20 player in England and big things were expected of him when signing with the defending BBL champions.
However, he had scored just 129 runs in his opening five matches, but strode to the wicket against the Heat with his team in trouble at 2-23 and delivered a stunning knock of 77 from 37 deliveries.
The Scorchers made 2-137 in reply to Brisbane's 7-134 with 25 balls remaining.
The Heat batted first after captain James Hopes won the toss and did well to set Perth 135 in the end, thanks to an unbeaten 52 from 40 balls by Nathan Reardon.
Brad Hogg starred again, taking 2-14, and Jason Behrendorff finished with 2-28.
Things were then tight when the Scorchers lost Marcus Harris for six and Michael Klinger for 10 and they were just 2-61 after 10 overs, but captain Adam Voges and Carberry then set the platform.
Voges played a solid hand to remain 35 not out from 37 balls, but it was Carberry's night as he led the Scorchers home to record their fourth win of the BBL campaign to only be narrowly behind the Adelaide Strikers in the quest for top spot on the ladder.
Carberry was struggling early in his innings but, in the 11th over, he took a liking to the bowling of Ryan Duffield, hitting him for two fours and a massive six.
Andrew Flintoff then bowled his only over of the innings, the 13th, and Carberry smashed him for two sixes and a four.
In the end, Carberry finished with six sixes and six fours.
The loss ends the Heat's slim chances of making the finals with just one win from five matches and New Zealand's Daniel Vettori has played his final game before joining the Black Caps ahead of the World Cup. He finished with 0-27 from four overs.
Carberry was pleased to finally find his best form in his sixth BBL game.
"A lot of hard work and patience went into that knock," Carberry said.
"I've been working hard on my game to try and get some fluency since I've been here and I'm pleased it paid off tonight."
In the end, Reardon and the Heat realised they didn't have enough runs on the board.
"By making 135, we gave ourselves a chance of winning the game but everything has to go your way and you just have to keep taking wickets," Reardon said.
"Voges and Carberry set it up perfectly after coming in at a pretty tricky time.
"We got a couple of quick wickets and they took their time getting in, and then Carberry whacked them and got them home quite easily."
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