19/12Result
1st Match (N), Big Bash League at Sydney, Dec 19 2017
Thunder won by 5 wkts (0b rem)
Player of the Match
Shane Watson
Shane WatsonSydney Thunder
19/12Result
1st Match (N), Big Bash League at Sydney, Dec 19 2017
Thunder won by 5 wkts (0b rem)
Player of the Match
Shane Watson
Shane WatsonSydney Thunder

END OF OVER:
20 | 15 Runs | ST: 150/5 | RR: 7.50

  • Arjun Nair12 (6b)
  • Aiden Blizzard11 (7b)
  • Sean Abbott4-0-39-0
  • Doug Bollinger4-0-35-0

11.12pm Phew what a way to kick off the BBL season! Thunder secure the derby in a last-ball finish. Their captain Shane Watson led the chase of 150 with a velvet-smooth 77 off 46 balls. Kurtis Patterson and Gibson, however, struggled to time the ball. Ultimately, the equation was down to 26 off 18 balls. Sams, on T20 debut, removed Gibson and Watson off successive balls, to end with the best figures on BBL debut, but Nair and Blizzard hung on to seal the deal. Thanks for your company and comments. Hope you enjoyed the coverage as much as we did bringing it to you. This is Deivarayan Muthu and P Ranjith signing off. Goodbye and good night.

Blizzard: Arjun has some serious skill and I am really happy he got one up. We could not have asked for a better start and we will take a derby victory.

Arjun: How good he is he[Watson]? He's terrific.

Kapil: "Very ordinary batting from Gibson. In T20s, post 10 overs, you cannot afford to bat at 50% strike rate. Watson's big hits saved the day for Thunder but talents like Buttler and Blizzard should surely bat higher than a Gibson"

Gagan: "Muthu has published my comment, now I can work in peace. Great start to BBL." --- Cheers, thanks for reading

Sams is the Man of the Match on T20 debut

Sunny: "Buttler is up?or Nevill...sure you excited for the nail biting finish!" --- Ah, yes it was Nevill indeed

19.6
1
Abbott to Nair, 1 run, back of a length and outside off, Nair reaches out for the ball with fast hands and carves it to cover point. Nair and Blizzard hare across for a single to seal Thunder's win. Botha at cover-point did not attack the ball and simply hung back. He could not effect a direct hit either. The throw is to Abbott, and Nair dishes out a full-length dive to wrap it up. Replays suggest the ball bobbled out of Abbott's hands. Gee, what a finish

It boils down to one needed off one ball. Henriques has a long chat with the bowler. Nair on strike. Nevill is up to the stumps to prevent a bye. Fine leg, third man back

19.5
1
Abbott to Blizzard, 1 run, full-toss on the leg stump, clipped away to deep square leg
19.4
4
Abbott to Blizzard, FOUR, Blizzard squirts a boundary to the right of Bollinger. Lazy work from the big man at 45. He was too lazy to dive. Very full on leg stump nudged away
19.3
1
Abbott to Nair, 1 run, really full on the leg stump, whipped away to wide long-on
19.2
4
Abbott to Nair, FOUR, banged in short and outside off, Nair has a crack at a pull and top-edges it, but gets the desired result. Edged past the keeper for another boundary
19.1
4
Abbott to Nair, FOUR, wide full-toss, Nair stays leg-side of the ball and carves it away past the right of deep third man for four. Perfect start to the over for Thunder

Thunder need 16 off the last over. Abbott will bowl it. Over the wicket

END OF OVER:
19 | 8 Runs | ST: 135/5 (15 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.10, RRR: 15.00)

  • Arjun Nair2 (2b)
  • Aiden Blizzard6 (5b)
  • Doug Bollinger4-0-35-0
  • Daniel Sams4-0-14-4
18.6
1
Bollinger to Nair, 1 run, down the track and carved to extra cover

Sams' 4 for 14 are the best figures on BBL debut

18.5
1
Bollinger to Blizzard, 1 run, middle-stump yorker, toe-ended down to long-on
18.4
0
Bollinger to Blizzard, no run, back of a length and bouncing over the stumps as the batsman has a big yahoo at it and misses
18.3
1
Bollinger to Nair, 1 run, full and attacking the stumps, pushed down the ground to long-on
18.2
1
Bollinger to Blizzard, 1 run, just short of a good length and outside off, short-armed over midwicket
18.1
4
Bollinger to Blizzard, FOUR, full-toss on off stump, clubbed across the line to the midwicket boundary

END OF OVER:
18 | 3 Runs 2 Wkts | ST: 127/5 (23 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.05, RRR: 11.50)

  • Aiden Blizzard0 (1b)
  • Arjun Nair0 (0b)
  • Daniel Sams4-0-14-4
  • Sean Abbott3-0-24-0
17.6
1lb
Sams to Blizzard, 1 leg bye, a big shout for lbw, but this is perhaps heading down the leg side. Pretty full and nipping in, the batsman plays around the front pad and misses. Sams finishes with 4 for 14 on T20 debut

Blizzard is here to face the hat-trick ball

17.5
W
Sams to Watson, OUT, What a debut this is turning out to be for Sams! Two in two this over, including the big scalp of Watson. Back of a length and angling across off, Watson punches crisply but picks out Henriques at cover

SR Watson c Henriques b Sams 77 (46b 6x4 6x6) SR: 167.39

Nair. No signs of Blizzard

17.4
W
Sams to Gibson, OUT, O'Keefe runs in from long leg, dives forward, and holds onto this top edge. Rushing short ball on middle, Gibson's scratchy innings ends. He hooks but only skies it to O'Keefe

RJ Gibson c O'Keefe b Sams 8 (17b 0x4 0x6) SR: 47.05

17.3
1
Sams to Watson, 1 run, back of a length offcutter, slid down to third man

Gagan: "With IPL auction round the corner, BBL is a great platform for players to show themselves. Watto knows this best."

17.2
0
Sams to Watson, no run, wide yorker, angling away outside off, Watson can't touch it

Over the stumps

17.1
1
Sams to Gibson, 1 run, slower full ball outside off, 115ks, opens the face and slices through point

Thunder fans rallying behind their captain Watson. They need 26 off the last three

END OF OVER:
17 | 16 Runs | ST: 124/3 (26 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.29, RRR: 8.66)

  • Shane Watson76 (43b)
  • Ryan Gibson7 (15b)
  • Sean Abbott3-0-24-0
  • Johan Botha4-0-32-1

Aashish Calla: "I think the ST have got their batting order wrong - Blizzard is a T20 opener and should have walked in with Watto; also to give a left-right combo at the top - And Buttler should have been at 4 or 5 to finish the chase." --- Yeah, fair point, but Watson is in such a mood that he can do this on his own for Thunder

16.6
0
Abbott to Watson, no run, full-toss, angling into hit the pad, but this is clearly heading past leg stump
16.5
4
Abbott to Watson, FOUR, slower legcutter outside off, but the length is short. Watson leans back and carves it over backward point
16.5
1w
Abbott to Watson, 1 wide, bouncer outside off, bursts off the deck, left alone. Wide
16.4
4
Abbott to Watson, FOUR, goes for the yorker, but this comes out as a full-toss on the off stump, whipped away between deep square leg and deep midwicket
16.3
6
Abbott to Watson, SIX, just short of a good length on off stump, Watson can knock these runs on his own. He nails a pull into the stands beyond midwicket
16.2
1
Abbott to Gibson, 1 run, rising short ball outside off, deflected fine past the keeper. Okay, he's got Watson back on strike
16.1
0
Abbott to Gibson, no run, Gibson uses his feet, Abbott beats the inside edge and pings the pad of the batsman

Huzefa: "Gibson is only putting pressure on Watson here. Last ball single..don't tell me!!

Thunder 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st1JC ButtlerKR Patterson
2nd75SR WatsonKR Patterson
3rd9SR WatsonBJ Rohrer
4th41SR WatsonRJ Gibson
5th0SR WatsonAJ Nair
6th24AC BlizzardAJ Nair

Big Bash League

TeamMWLPTNRR
PS1082160.154
AS1073140.801
MR1064120.297
HH105510-0.291
SS104680.331
ST10468-0.039
BH10468-0.437
MS10284-0.926