Debutant’s incredible one-handed six for Thunder

Sydney Thunder were struggling in their chase against Perth Scorchers before debutant’s innings changed the course of the game.

Oliver Davies hits a reverse-sweep for four during his debut innings for Sydney Thunder Picture: Getty Images

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

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 for the Thunder when they began a modest chase of 153 runs to win. The hosts lost Alex Hales and Usman Khawaja early, but Davies released the pressure with a 36-run cameo from 22 balls with three sixes, including an audacious one-handed shot over square leg from Australia’s World Cup bowler Jason Behrendorff.

ONE-HAND SIX! #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/WARsrHvWB1

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 22, 2020

By the time Davies departed the Thunder were best placed to win and it was left to all-rounder Ben Cutting to bring it home with an excellent, unbeaten 29 (16 balls).

Earlier, Mitch Marsh dragged the Scorchers to a reasonable total with an unbeaten 52 off 41 balls. He was well supported by Cameron Bancroft (34 off 26), but overall the Scorchers just couldn’t quite get on top of the Thunder’s bowling.

Regular wickets fell throughout and by the end of the 10th over they were struggling at 3-56. That was thanks to a clinical and economical bowling performance from the Thunder, and in particular from Adam Milne.

The returning New Zealand international did not pick up a wicket, but he was outstanding in stifling the Scorchers batsmen and ended with figures of 0-17 after his four overs.

A crucial Power Surge saw the Scorchers add 30 runs, before Marsh and Bancroft carried them through to a 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 benefited from an umpiring howler when a regulation catch behind should have seen him depart for 18.

“He’s just had a shocker there”, was how Brad Haddin described the decision as Khawaja survived because, according to the umpire, the bat had hit the ground. It hadn’t.

The Thunder were struggling to get going, 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.

NCA Newswire