Adelaide Strikers defeat Sydney Thunder by 25 runs
ADELAIDE Strikers are back on top of the Big Bash points table after overcoming Sydney Thunder by 25 runs in a challenging contest Sunday night.
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ADELAIDE Strikers are back on top of the Big Bash points table after overcoming Sydney Thunder by 25 runs in a challenging contest Sunday night.
It was again the Strikers bowlers taking the spotlight in Sydney, restricting the Thunder to 9/133 in response to their 7/158.
“Our bowling has varieties about it which make it unique,” Strikers captain Travis Head told Channel 10.
“Everyone is different, which is fantastic.”
The Strikers’ inconsistency with the bat was again an issue as the Thunder attacked the visitors with spin.
The work of Chris Green, Arjun Nair and Fawad Ahmed subdued the Strikers for much of the innings before South African Colin Ingram lived up to his big-hitting reputation to belt 48 runs from 31 balls.
Ingram, fortunate to survive a confident lbw shout from Nair, took advantage of his early close shave to smash four sixes and two fours.
Openers Alex Carey and Jake Weatherald looked in control, putting on 29 runs before the latter was caught behind for 15 off 13 balls.
Carey was in fine form as he helped himself to 34 runs from 28 balls, hitting Ahmed for six before the Thunder spinner bowled him two balls later to get his revenge.
His was the third wicket to fall, five balls after the side lost Head, who continued his issues with spin when caught at long-on off Ahmed in the eighth over.
In-form Strikers spinner Rashid Khan provided late entertaining fireworks, crunching two well-timed sixes in the final over.
The Thunder made a confident start to the run chase with openers Kurtis Patterson and Jos Buttler combining for 45 runs. Not surprisingly, Rashid got the much-needed break through, bowling Buttler for 21 with a superb delivery so typical of his season.
The wicket slowed the Thunder scoring and the Strikers’ cause was aided by the wicket of Patterson, caught by Jonathan Wells off Billy Stanlake. When Thunder gun Shane Watson was caught at long on by Jake Lehmann 14 runs later, the Strikers had the win at their mercy.
Originally published as Adelaide Strikers defeat Sydney Thunder by 25 runs