21/01Result

1st Semi-Final (N), Big Bash League at Adelaide, Jan 21 2016

Thunder won by 8 wkts (14b rem)

Player of the Match

10.05pm What an innings from Usman Khawaja. Single-handedly confirmed his team's berth in the finals with an awesome innings. Ultimately, Sydney Thunder romp to the target with ease and with that to their first finals in BBL history. Adelaide Strikers had no answers to any of the problems raised by Khawaja and a total of 159 was made to look much much lesser than that.

Usman Khawaja, man of the match: "I'm hitting the ball really well, I'm playing the game I love. smallish totals, I like to get off to a bit to a start. First finals for the Thunder, I'm so excited. Last 3-4 years, I've been concentrating on improving the 360 game."

17.4

Rashid to Khawaja, 1 run, Khawaja whips to deep midwicket to take Sydney Thunder to the finals.

17.3

Rashid to Nicholls, 1 run, flat on off, pushed to cover

17.2

Rashid to Nicholls, SIX, low full toss on middle, Nicholls is more than pleased and whacks it deep over midwicket for a massive six

17.1

Rashid to Khawaja, 1 run, tossed up on middle,pushed to mid-off for one

Pranye: "How good has Rashid been this tournament? Surely should be in the limited overs side for England."

END OF OVER:
17 | 11 Runs | ST: 151/2 (9 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.88, RRR: 3.00)

Usman Khawaja102 (57b)
Henry Nicholls28 (25b)

Ben Laughlin3-0-21-1
Adil Rashid3-0-19-1

16.6

Laughlin to Khawaja, 1 run, slower ball on middle, worked to deep midwicket

16.5

Laughlin to Nicholls, 1 run, shortish delivery on middle, Nicholls plays the pull this time to deep midwicket

16.4

Laughlin to Khawaja, 1 run, bouncer again on off, pulled to fine leg

16.3

Laughlin to Khawaja, SIX, Khawaja gets 100, what an innings this has been. he removes his helmet and raises his bat in jubilation. Single-handedly taking his team to the finals. Second of the tournament. Pulled this high and powerfully over deep square leg

A bit of a drizzle in the air now

Match Coverage

All Match News

Khawaja lauds Thunder's work behind the scenes
Usman Khawaja believes Sydney Thunder are reaping the rewards of the work of Michael Hussey and general manager Nick Cummins, following his quickfire hundred in the semi-final against Adelaide Strikers
Khawaja's 58-ball 103 powers Thunder into first final
Usman Khawaja continued his summer to remember, slamming an unbeaten 104 off 59 balls to lift Sydney Thunder to their first ever BBL final

Thunder INNINGS		R	B
UT Khawaja	not out	104	59
SR Watson	caught	7	8
MEK Hussey	caught wk	11	13
HM Nicholls	not out	35	27
BJ Rohrer
AD Russell
CJ Green
CD Hartley
CJ McKay
Fawad Ahmed
N McAndrew
EXTRAS	(lb 1, w 1, nb 1)
TOTAL	160 (2 wkts; 17.4 ovs)

Strikers BOWLING	O	R	W	Econ
GD Putland	4.0	37	0	9.25	(1nb, 1w)
JM Holland	2.0	19	0	9.5
MG Neser	3.0	33	0	11
B Laughlin	3.0	21	1	7
TM Head	2.0	21	0	10.5
AU Rashid	3.4	28	1	7.63

Thunder 2nd innings Partnerships

Wkt	Runs	Players
1st	57	SR Watson	UT Khawaja
2nd	30	MEK Hussey	UT Khawaja
3rd	73	UT Khawaja	HM Nicholls

Big Bash League

Team	M	W	L	PT	NRR
AS	8	7	1	14	0.544
MS	8	5	3	10	0.366
PS	8	5	3	10	0.181
ST	8	4	4	8	0.375
MR	8	3	5	6	-0.041
BH	8	3	5	6	-0.204
HH	8	3	5	6	-0.955
SS	8	2	6	4	-0.33

END OF OVER:17 | 11 Runs | ST: 151/2 (9 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.88, RRR: 3.00)

Khawaja lauds Thunder's work behind the scenes

Khawaja's 58-ball 103 powers Thunder into first final

END OF OVER:
17 | 11 Runs | ST: 151/2 (9 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.88, RRR: 3.00)