Watson rolls back the years as Thunder sneak home
Daniel Sams picked up a four-wicket haul on T20 debut but ended up on the losing side as Arjun Nair and Aiden Blizzard conjured 16 off the last over to drag the Thunder over the line
19/12Result
1st Match (N), Big Bash League at Sydney, Dec 19 2017
-
![Sydney Sixers]( "Sydney Sixers")
-
![Sydney Thunder]( "Sydney Thunder")
150/5 (20 ov)
Player of the Match
19/12Result
1st Match (N), Big Bash League at Sydney, Dec 19 2017
-
![Sydney Sixers]( "Sydney Sixers")
-
![Sydney Thunder]( "Sydney Thunder")
150/5 (20 ov)
Player of the Match
Match Centre
Statistics
Best performances - Batsmen
SR Watson
77(46) 6x4 - 6x6
Control %83%
- Productive Shot
- pull
- 40 runs
- 3x4 - 4x6
SW Billings
32(21) 2x4 - 1x6
Control %80%
- Productive Shot
- flick
- 10 runs
- 0x4 - 0x6
Best performances - Bowlers
DR Sams
- O4
- M0
- R14
- W4
- Eco3.50
| 1W | ||||
| 2W | ||||
- FTFULL TOSS
- YYORKER
- FFULL LENGTH
- GGOOD LENGTH
- SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
- SSHORT LENGTH
| 1W | ||||
Fawad Ahmed
- O4
- M1
- R11
- W2
- Eco2.75
- FTFULL TOSS
- YYORKER
- FFULL LENGTH
- GGOOD LENGTH
- SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
- SSHORT LENGTH
| 2W | ||||
Match Details
Series
Toss
Sydney Thunder , elected to field first
Player Of The Match
Season
Match days
19 December 2017 - night match (20-over match)
Twenty20 debut
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Points
Sydney Thunder 2, Sydney Sixers 0
Scorecard Summary
SYDNEY SIXERS 149/9 (20 OVERS)
- Sam Billings32 (21)
- Nic Maddinson31 (21)
- Fawad Ahmed2/11 (4)
- Mitchell McClenaghan2/25 (4)
SYDNEY THUNDER 150/5 (20 OVERS)
- Shane Watson77 (46)
- Kurtis Patterson29 (37)
- Johan Botha1/32 (4)
- Daniel Sams4/14 (4)
Scorer: Ranjith P | Commentator: Deivarayan Muthu
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
Match Coverage
All Match NewsWatson rolls back the years as Thunder sneak home
Daniel Sams picked up a four-wicket haul on T20 debut but ended up on the losing side as Arjun Nair and Aiden Blizzard conjured 16 off the last over to drag the Thunder over the line
