AUSTRALIA: Sam Billings and Jason Sangha’s half-centuries helped Sydney Thunder defeat Perth Scorchers by 34 runs. After this match, Sydney Thunder jumps to the no.4 spot in the Big Bash League points table whereas Perth Scorchers retained their 1st position at the points table. In this match after winning the toss, Perth Scorchers decided to bowl first.
Sydney Thunder lost both their openers cheaply. Matthew Kelly removed both the Sydney Thunders opening batsmen and gave Perth Scorchers the breakthrough. Matthew Gilkes after scoring just 2 runs whereas Alex Hales was looking good but he got out after scoring 13 runs off 11 deliveries which included 1 four and 1 six. Sydney Thunder was 23/2 after 3.5 overs.
Sam Billings and Jason Sangha’s record stand
After the fall of two quick wickets, Jason Sangha and Sam Billings came out to resurrect the Sydney Thunder innings. They both batted cautiously at the start but after that, they both started dealing in boundaries and sixes.
Jason Sangha and Sam Billings stitched up a 113 runs partnership. Sam Billings scored a brilliant half-century. Sam Billings made 67 runs off just 35 deliveries which included 10 fours and 2 sixes. Sam Billings played with a strike rate of 191.43.
After Sam Billings got out Sydney Thunder was 136/3 after 14.3 overs. Sydney Thunder started losing some quick wickets in the form of Alex Ross (6), Daniel Sams (10), and Ben Cutting (10) but Jason Sangha kept fighting from the other end.
Jason Sangha scored an unbeaten half-century as he scored 56 runs off 46 deliveries which included 5 fours. There was also a good cameo by Chris Green who scored 14 runs off 6 deliveries and Sydney Thunder ended their innings at 200/7 after 20 overs.
For Perth Scorchers, Matthew Kelly took 3 wickets, Mitchell Marsh took 2 wickets while Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye took 1 wicket each.
Sydney Thunder bowlers derail the Perth Scorchers inning
Perth Scorchers had the worst of the starts as they lost their opening batsmen Josh Inglis on just the second ball of the Perth Scorchers batting innings. Josh Inglis got out for a golden duck. After that Perth Scorchers lost 3 wickets inside the mandatory powerplay in the form of the dangerous Mitchell Marsh (6) and Kurtis Patterson (10).
Perth Scorchers were struggling at 17/3 after 4 overs. Colin Munro and Ashton Turner tried to build a partnership but just when Ashton Turner (13) was getting settled, he got out and Perth Scorchers were 44/4 after 6.5 overs.
Colin Munro was trying to bring Perth Scorchers back in the game but he wasn’t getting any support from the other batsmen. Colin Munro stitched up a 43 runs partnership with Laurie Evans. Laurie Evans got out after scoring 12 runs off 10 deliveries which included 1 six.
Ashton Agar also couldn’t last long as he got out after scoring just 5 runs off 5 deliveries and Perth Scorchers were 97/6 after 12.4 overs.
Andrew Tye came out to support Colin Munro in the middle. They Both stitched up a 55 runs partnership in which Colin Munro also brought up his half-century. Andrew Tye scored a brilliant 44 runs off just 25 deliveries which included 3 fours and 3 sixes. When Tye got out Perth Scorchers were 152/7 after 18.1 overs.
Perth Scorchers needed 48 runs in 11 deliveries and that proved to be too much for Perth Scorchers and they scored 166/8 after the completion of 20 overs and Sydney Thunder won by 34 runs.
Colin Munro remained unbeaten on 64 runs off 43 deliveries which included 6 fours. For Sydney Thunder, Nathan McAndrew took 3 wickets, Saqib Mahmood and Chris Green took 2 wickets each while Daniel Sams took 1 wicket.
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