Big Bash 2020: Debutant Oliver Davies on song for the Thunder as umpiring blunder ignites emotions

There’s been plenty, but the horrendous umpiring decision which saw Sydney Thunder’s Usman Khawaja get a life surely must top the list of howlers in this BBL series.

Ben Cutting finishes the job for the Thunder. Pictures: Getty Images

It took a captain’s knock from Callum Ferguson to steer the Sydney Thunder to another win over the struggling Perth Scorchers.

Ferguson hit an unbeaten 61 off 53 balls as the Thunder won at Manuka Oval by seven wickets, but it was youngster Oliver Davies on debut who turned the game.

It wasn’t smooth-sailing as the Thunder began their chase, despite needing a modest 153 runs to win. They lost Alex Hales and Usman Khawaja early, but Davies completely released the pressure with a 36-run cameo that included an audacious one-handed six.

“We talked about it with Ollie (Davies) — make sure you take a breath out there and look to hunt the loose ball,” Ferguson said.

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Callum Ferguson led from the front with an unbeaten 61 for the Thunder at Manuka Oval.

“When you feel you’ve got a good match up we really want you to hunt that as well and try and put some pressure back on. He did it beautifully and he’s got a huge future ahead of him.”

By the time he departed the Thunder were best placed to win and it was left to Ben Cutting to bring it home with an excellent, unbeaten 29.

Earlier, Mitch Marsh dragged the Scorchers back to a reasonable total with an unbeaten 52 off 41 balls.

He was well supported at the back end by Cameron Bancroft (34 off 26), but overall it was an innings the Scorchers just couldn’t get a grip of.

Regular wickets fell throughout and by the end of the 10th over they were struggling at 3-56. It was thanks to a clinical and economical bowling performance from the Thunder, and in particular from Adam Milne. The returning Kiwi quick didn’t pick up any wickets, but he was outstanding in stifling the Scorchers batsmen and ended with figures of 0-17 after his four overs.

First-gamer Oliver Davies struck a remarkable one-handed six on his way to 36.

A crucial Power Surge saw the Scorchers add 30 runs, before Marsh and Bancroft carried them through to a relatively competitive total of 5-152.

In reply, the Thunder lost Hales early for a duck and Khawaja didn’t stick around for too long either. Khawaja benefitted from a shocker when a regulation catch behind the stumps should have seen him depart for 18, but he was given not because the umpire wrongly thought the bat had hit the ground.

The Thunder were battling on, before the crucial partnership between Davies and Ferguson took the game away from the Scorchers.

It was the Thunder’s fifth win in six games against the Scorchers, while the Perth side remain winless this season.

Andrew Tye (centre) and his Scorchers teammates cannot believe their appeal for caught behind with Usman Khawaja at the wicket is turned down.

UMPIRE BLUNDER

“He’s just had a shocker there”, was how Brad Haddin described the umpire’s decision not to give Usman Khawaja out. The Thunder batsman was on 18 when he took a chunk off the ball as he nicked it behind. It looked a regulation catch, but Khawaja was given not out because, according to the umpire, the bat hit the ground. It didn’t, and bowler Andrew Tye did very well to keep it together.

The blunder comes hot on the heels of Callum Ferguson joining a chorus of current and former players calling for the DRS to be introduced to the BBL.

The irony on Tuesday night wasn’t missed — as it was Khawaja which saw Ferguson speak out when he was controversially given out caught behind against the Melbourne Stars.

On that night, replays showed daylight between the ball and Khawaja’s bat.

Kiwi paceman Adam Milne finds himself on the deck after slipping in his comeback match.

FIERY KIWI RETURNS

Adam Milne’s BBL debut for the Thunder was also his first match in over a year — and he didn’t disappoint.

The Kiwi speedster has battled a chronic ankle injury since unleashing a 153km/h thunderbolt earlier in his career and while he didn’t quite reach those speeds for the Thunder, he was outstanding nonetheless.

There were hearts in mouths as he slipped in his run-up in his first over, but he recovered to stifle the Scorchers batsmen with his speed and accuracy. He didn’t even need to take a wicket to leave his mark, ending with figures of 0-17.

TEAM CATCHES WIN MATCHES

The Thunder’s teamwork to eventually dismiss Colin Munro for 25 was made sweeter after he was dropped on one by Callum Ferguson at the start of the innings. Munro was just settling in when he went after Ben Cutting, but the ball was parried by Usman Khawaja with Milne coming around him to take the catch. It was a big wicket and it left the Scorchers in strife.

Originally published as Big Bash 2020: Debutant Oliver Davies on song for the Thunder as umpiring blunder ignites emotions