Cameron Bancroft hit his first half-century since returning from a nine-month ban to help Perth Scorchers beat Melbourne Stars by six wickets in the Big Bash.
The Scorchers opener, who received a ninth-month suspension for ball tampering while playing for Australia, made 59 off 42 balls before he was stumped by Seb Gotch off the bowling of Liam Bowe.
Bancroft is humming out there!
59 from 40 balls, as the @ScorchersBBL move to 1-94 #BBL08 pic.twitter.com/OXsYRALYzu
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 9, 2019
Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball against South Africa in Cape Town in March.
The 26-year-old returned to action 10 days ago and was playing his fourth match as he attempts to resurrect his career.
His haul in the night match at Melbourne Cricket Ground included four fours and two maximums as the Scorchers successfully chased the Stars' score of 146 for six with 14 balls to spare.
BANCROFT IS BACK! 💥6⃣ That's now 2 sixes and four 4s for the man himself! We're 1-92 in the 12th over.. needing 54 off 43#MADETOUGH #BBL08 — Perth Scorchers (@ScorchersBBL) January 9, 2019
All-rounder David Willey also contributed to the away team's victory by claiming the crucial wicket of Stars top scorer Ben Dunk, who was caught by Ashton Agar for 62.
Willey's fellow England international Liam Plunkett later caught and bowled Bancroft's opening partner Michael Klinger for 29 but he finished on the losing side having taken one for 35 from 3.4 overs.
