Sydney Thunder robbed of victory by power failure during BBL clash
Sydney Thunder were left fuming after being robbed of an almost certain victory when a massive power failure in Brisbane caused the Big Bash match against the Heat to be abandoned.
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Update: The Sydney Thunder were left fuming after being robbed of an almost certain victory when a massive power failure in Brisbane caused Thursday night’s Big Bash match against the Heat to be abandoned.
In a farcical ending which once again underlined cricket’s ludicrous rules to deal with light issues, match officials called off the game when half the floodlights in the stadium blacked out after the entire East Brisbane grid lost all power.
Although there was still plenty of light on the ground, officials ruled that the conditions were too dangerous after the blackout in neighbouring streets, promoting a disagreement between the rival coaches.
“It’s a disaster for the competition,” Thunder coach Shane Bond said. “We just wanted the opportunity to play. There was no reason we couldn’t play out there.
As most of the guys said there are lights around the world worse than this. There is no way it was unsafe in my view.”
Bond offered to bowl only his spinners in an attempt to have the game re-started but Brisbane Heat coach Daniel Vettori disagreed and said the decision should be left up to the umpires.
“We’ve agreed to bowl our spinners ... Brisbane said no,” a furious Bond told Fox Cricket
“They (match officials) made a call, it was deemed they would agree to play if Brisbane agreed to play,” Bond said. “When they didn’t agree, the match referee said it was unsafe.
“The problem I have is if Brisbane agreed to play it was safe, but because Brisbane didn’t agree to play it was unsafe.”
Thunder officials said they had complained to Cricket Australia and would consider lodging a protest against the result.
ROBBED
The Thunder were heading towards a huge win after making 4-186 on the back of a brilliant century from Shane Watson then reducing the home side to 2-10 after three overs when play was stopped.
Under the tournament rules, each team has to bat for a minimum of five overs for a result to be declared, so both teams were given a point each.
EVERGREEN WATTO
MAYBE it’s time Watson reconsidered his decision to retire from international cricket because there’s plenty of life in those old legs yet.
He might be 37, but the former Australian skipper showed why plenty of good judges reckon he’s still among the best T20 players in the country after he produced a masterclass by making an even 100.
On the same day Australia’s best young prospects struggled against the touring Sri Lankans, Watson showed how to get the job by scoring the first century in Big Bash this season.
RECORD BREAKER
Watson got a life on 33 when he was dropped by Max Bryant at backward point but he hardly played another false shot as he pummelled the Brisbane Heat bowlers and set a bunch of records along the way.
Not only did he become the first player to score a Big bash hundred this season but he also became the oldest player to score a hundred in BBL history, eclipsing Michael Klinger who was 34 when he reached triple figures for the Perth Scorchers on Boxing Day, 2014.
Listen: Our latest Cricket Unfiltered podcast is all about the Big Bash, with former Australian women’s captain Lisa Lisa Sthalekar joining the Herald Sun’s Sam Landsberger to discuss the state of the men’s and women’s Big Bash Leagues.
Watson reached reaching the milestone of 61 balls after belting six fours and clearing the ropes six times, matching the most sixes in a single innings this season.
He smashed his previous best BBL score off 77 but he’s no stranger to T20 hundreds, having scored one for Australia and four in the IPL, including last year’s final.
FLOP BROTHERS
The Bash Brothers both scored 50s against the Thunder in Sydney but managed just four runs between them. Brendon McCullum was first man out for a duck then Chris Lynn followed him shortly after for two.
The Thunder couldn’t have got off to a better start with Watson and Anton Devcich posting Sydney’s best opening partnership of the season.
The pair cracked 55 off the powerplay and out on 58 for the first stand when Devcich holed out to Alex Ross at mid-wicket for 26.
A mid-season addition after Jos Buttler and Joe Root left for England duties, Devcich has impressed in his two matches so far, making 47 runs at a strike rate in excess of 130.
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