Match 39, Sydney, January 13, 2023, 01:00 PM
Sydney Thunder
111/10(19.0ov)
Perth Scorchers
112/1(12.5ov)
Perth Scorchers beat Sydney Thunder by 9 wickets
Right then, that is it from this game and Perth Scorchers have just increased their advantage at the top of this table with this big win. The action in the Big Bash League only gets more heated up as on Super Saturday, we have a doubleheader lined up. In the first game, it will be Adelaide Strikers up against Brisbane Heat which will begin at 10.30 am IST (5 am GMT). This will be followed by the Melbourne derby as the Renegades will take on Stars at 2 pm IST (8.30 am GMT). You can join us early for the build-up of both those games. Cheers!
Andrew Tye (4-1-27-3) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his solid performance with the ball.
The man of the moment, Cameron Bancroft is down for a quick chat. He says that he is really enjoying every opportunity he gets to play. Claims that the wicket was a bit two-paced and challenging to bat on but once he got his eye in, he could adapt more easily. Mentions that it is an enjoyable contest playing against the Sydney Sixers and the next game will be on their home patch but they are up for the challenge.
Earlier in the game, Ashton Turner won the toss and put the hosts into bat which turned out to be a great decision for Perth Scorchers. Their openers bowlers, David Payne and Lance Morris got a wicket each in their first overs and that set the tone for the rest of the innings. The Scorchers were put on the back foot a bit due to the partnership between David Warner and Oliver Davies but once they were able to break the partnership, the game was in their control. Davies did play well for his 52 but couldn't stick around for the slog overs and the Thunder batters were picked off one by one. Andrew Tye finished with three wickets in the end and all the other bowlers did their job too. Coming to the chase, Perth Scorchers seemed in control from start to finish and got to the finish line with 43 balls to spare, a huge victory for them.
Sydney Thunder didn't have the runs on the board but would have liked their bowlers to put up a better fight. Brendan Doggett was taken to the cleaners early by Stephen Eskinazi and never really recovered. The spinners, Chris Green and Usman Qadir couldn't trouble the opposition batters either and it was only Nathan McAndrew who varied his pace and lengths well and managed to pick up the only wicket of the chase. A demoralizing defeat for the Thunder and their form against the sides above them in the table continues to be a poor one. They will now look to bounce back quickly.
A simply stunning performance from the reigning champions and Perth Scorchers have completely blown away Sydney Thunder in this game to assert their position on the top of the points table. Chasing a meager target of 112 runs, the openers Stephen Eskinazi and Cameron Bancroft took on the bowling from the word go and scored 37 runs in the Powerplay. They added on 77 quick runs before Eskinazi got out. Bancroft carried on scoring at a good pace and finished with a well-deserved half-century. He was well supported by Aaron Hardie toward the end.
In over# 13
6
1
0
1
1
Daniel Sams 16/0(1.5)
12.5
6
SIX! Aaron Hardie gets his team over the finish line in style! Daniel Sams bowls this full and on a leg stump line. Aaron Hardie clears his front foot out of the way and lofts this over the long on fence and collects a maximum! A huge win for the reigning champions as they win by 9 wickets with 43 balls to spare.
12.4
1
Continues bowling full but this time outside the off stump. Cameron Bancroft heaves across the line and mishits the ball to deep square leg for a single. Perth Scorchers are just one hit away from a massive win.
12.3
.
Goes full this time and pitches this outside the leg stump. Cameron Bancroft clips this straight to mid-wicket.
12.2
1
This is on a good length and in line with the stumps. Aaron Hardie taps this with soft hands towards mid off and takes a quick run.
12.1
1
Daniel Sams starts off with a short ball on an off stump line. Cameron Bancroft pulls this towards deep square leg for a single.
In over# 12
0
0
4b
1
4
6
Usman Qadir 32/0(3)
11.6
.
Pulls back the length and bowls it on middle, Aaron Hardie blocks it out.
11.5
.
Another wrong 'un around off and Aaron Hardie defends it back to the bowler.
11.4
4b
FOUR BYES! Through everyone and the 100 is now up for Perth Scorchers. This is the wrong 'un from Usman Qadir, bowled full and on leg stump. Aaron Hardie looks for the heave but doesn't pick it up at all. The keeper doesn't either and the ball trickles into the fence.
11.3
1
On a length and around middle, Bancroft works it leg side and picks up a single.
11.2
4
FOUR! Another boundary and that will be FIFTY for Cameron Bancroft. This has been a brilliant knock from him. Just a fraction short and around middle, Bancroft pulls it away in front of mid-wicket and finds the fence.
11.1
6
SIX! Well struck and the ball goes all the way! Usman Qadir throws it up full and around off. Cameron Bancroft smashes it flat and to the right of the man at long off for a maximum.