Warner and Wes Agar combine to take Thunder to second place
Following the defeat, Melbourne Renegades have slipped to third place on the table
Following the defeat, Melbourne Renegades have slipped to third place on the table
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: Shashwat Kumar
10:53pm That will be all from us for this game. We hope you enjoyed our coverage and we will be back with more BBL action tomorrow. Until then, this is me, Shashwat, signing off on behalf of Vairavan and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care, folks!
David Warner, the Sydney Thunder captain is also the Player of the Match: (On the victory) It means a lot for us and for the fans. Got so close against the Sixers - the way they (the fans) keep turning up, it is awesome. It (this win) is important for us, we now go away (to Brisbane and Perth). Gives us great momentum going into those games. We will try and rest up tomorrow, have a good New Year's Eve and then get going (again). I have been hitting them well in the nets. Got a couple of starts, but wanted to make a statement. Was able to put pressure back on the bowlers. I knew it was going to be hard for the next couple of batters. The way they bowled was the blueprint for us. I told the guys that if they were not watching the first 20 overs, I would be gobsmacked. They (Renegades) had a bunch of hitters, I was happy with how brave we were (using the slower balls and our variations). He (Wes Agar) is phenomenal. His execution and plan is clear. Hard to keep him on the bench, but his impact coming in is phenomenal and he is going to be a big part (for us this year).
10:46pm A calm, collected and clinical bowling display. Renegades got off to a decent start, but the Thunder ensured they never ran away with the game through constant wicket-taking. Agar was the star of the show, bagging a four-wicket haul. Sams sent two batters back too, with Green and Andrews also getting on the board. The most impressive aspect of their bowling display, though, was how they stuck to their plans and concentrated on executing what needed to be executed.
Which is not something that can be said about the Renegades. They got stuck as the Thunder used all their variations and could not break out of that funk. There were cameos by Evans and Rogers towards the end, but by then, they had fallen behind and were only trying to play catch-up.
16 off 3. Renegades still alive. But not by much
18 off 4
22 needed off the last over. Andrews will bowl it. So, this game will have seen two spinners bowl the 20th. And ST need to have an extra fielder in the circle because of a slow over-rate. Do Renegades have enough firepower left to capitalize, though? Around the wicket
Following the defeat, Melbourne Renegades have slipped to third place on the table