Match 12, Albury, December 23, 2023, 10:00 AM
Melbourne Stars
172/10(20.0ov)
Sydney Thunder
176/5(18.2ov)
Sydney Thunder beat Melbourne Stars by 5 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Zaman Khan
Commentry
Right then, that’s it from this game but there’s plenty more action coming your way in the BBL. The second game of the day between Hobart Hurricanes and the Melbourne Renegades gets underway shortly. That game will begin at 1.45 pm IST (8.15 am GMT). But as you know, you can always join us early for the build-up. Until then, goodbye and cheers!
Chris Green, the Thunder skipper is up for a chat. He says that Zaman Khan likes to bowl the yorkers and he prides his death bowling. Adds that Zaman Khan is a brilliant character and shares that he is glad with the team effort. Mentions that they had a polished performance but there is always scope for improvement. Ends by saying that he is happy with the win and wishes Merry Christmas to everyone!
Zaman Khan is the Player of the Match for his excellent effort with the ball.
The Melbourne Stars had a competitive total on the board but their bowlers let them down. They bowled poor lines and gave away plenty of freebies. Beau Webster was the pick of the bowlers with 4 wickets to add along with his fifty with the bat. Liam Dawson chipped in with one but the rest of the bowlers had an off day and the Stars have slumped to their third loss in a row. Earlier today, the Stars batted first and posted 172 on the board largely thanks to Webster's fifty while Hilton Cartwright and Maxwell also made decent runs but it was not enough at the end. Melbourne Stars will need to regroup and come back stronger if they are to progress further in the tournament.
A comprehensive run chase by the Sydney Thunder sees them beat the Melbourne Stars by 5 wickets with an over to spare. Chasing 173 for the win, the Thunder got off to a brilliant start with Hales and Bancroft. The duo added 78 inside 8 overs and set the tone for the chase. Both the openers were however gone quickly but the middle order played handy cameos at a quick rate and got the Thunder past the winning line.
In over# 19
6
4
Liam Dawson 35/1(3.2)
18.2
6
SIX! SMOKED AND THUNDER ARE HOME! Full and straight at the stumps. McAndrws gets under it and launches it over the wide long-on boundary for a huge hit. Sydney Thunder win by 5 wickets and are off the mark in the points table. Fantastic win for the Thunder Nation!
18.1
4
FOUR! Flat on the middle. McAndrew makes room and drills it past the mid-off fielder and collects a boundary.
Sydney Thunder have taken the POWER SURGE with only 7 needed.
In over# 18
4
0
2
1
1
2
Usama Mir 28/0(3)
17.6
4
FOUR! BANG! Drops it short on middle and leg. Sams rocks back and launches it to the deep mid-wicket boundary for a cracking shot to end the over.
17.5
.
Flat and at the stumps. Sams punches it back at Mir.
17.4
2
Flatter on middle. Sams nudges it through mid-wicket for a brace.
17.3
1
Lands it full and around off, driven down to long off for a single.
17.2
1
Fraction short on middle. Sams pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.
17.1
2
Mir bowls it slower through the air on the leg peg. Sams nudges it through silly mid on for a couple.
In over# 17
1
1
1
2
1
0W
Beau Webster 29/4(4)
16.6
1
Good length at the stumps. Sams gets forward and inside edges it through backward square leg for a single. Excellent outing with the ball for Webster.
16.5
1
Slower and shorter outside off, pulled away through square leg for a single.