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Pat Cummins ready to hit speeds of old

One Test paceman Pat Cummins hopes he might only need one or two more games to regain his trademark speed.

Cummins snared 1-40 from his four overs for the Perth Scorchers in Thursday night’s five-run win over the Adelaide Strikers at the WACA Ground.

The 20-year-old bowled around 142km/h against the breeze in his return from stress fractures in his back, but he has the potential to regularly reach 150km/h.

Cummins, who has been plagued by foot and back injuries since making a stunning Test debut in 2011, is confident it won’t take long for him to rediscover his rhythm and pace.

“I’m not holding back – I’m trying to rip in,” Cummins said.

“I think it may take one or two games just to remember how it is in a game and be back bowling how I was.

“The main thing for me is accuracy – coming back and trying to bowl where I want to.

“There were a couple of balls that let me down. But other than that, I was pretty happy with how I bowled.”

Perth’s fifth win of the season guaranteed them a spot in the BBL finals, with a home semi-final well and truly on the cards.

Unheralded batsman Craig Simmons was the hero, the 31-year-old cracking a 39-ball ton to lift his side to 7-203.

Simmons’ century was the fastest in BBL history, eclipsing the 44-ball ton scored by Luke Wright in 2012.

The left-hander, who was plucked from grade ranks when Liam Davis pulled out of the Scorchers squad with a finger injury, will now consider putting his hand up for the IPL auction.

“I have only just turned 31,” said Simmons, who has an apprenticeship at energy utility Western Power.

“Simon Katich is 38, Hoggy is 43.

“So it’s not as if the game has passed me yet.

“We will just see what happens in the next few weeks.

“It is sort of a bit of a last chance for me.”

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