The Sydney Thunder have won a thriller against the Adelaide Strikers at Manuka Oval. Opening pair Matt Short (7) and Jake Weatherald (40) got into their work early for the Strikers, pinching 12 from the first over, including 4 from the first ball of the season.
The early dismissal of Short and Lynn (2) wasn’t enough to damper the momentum of the powerplay, with Weatherald striking consecutive boundaries to boost the Strikers to 2-47.
The sound off Weatherald’s bat continued to echo around the ground – favouring the legside and picking up balls on a length. The opener’s eventual downfall saw the Strikers change gears, as Nielsen (8) and Ross (22) looked to build upon the foundation of a quick start.
The spin of Chris Green (3-27) and Tanveer Sangha (2-27) proved difficult to get away, with the visitors failing to account for changes in pace and release point.
At the 10 over mark the Strikers were 4-84 with Ross and Overton (45*) at the crease. A six first ball after drinks signalled the visitors intent, however that same intent saw Ross caught in the deep a few balls later.
The international pairing of Overton and Allen (7) didn’t survive the end of Sangha’s spell, as the West Indian nicked off to slip. As wickets continued to fall from the slow bowlers, the Strikers saw to take apart the pace attack.
McAndrew and Ferguson lost their length in the power surge, with the Strikers taking 37 between the two overs. Although the surge cost Bazley (31) his wicket, his power hitting wrestled the momentum back long enough for the Strikers to post a defendable total.
Some late hitting from Overton propelled the visitors score up to 8-182.
The Sydney Thunder opened their account with a quick flurry of boundaries. Warner (7) and Konstas (56), on debut, used their feet and the width of the crease to create the deliveries they were after.
The early dismissal of Warner didn’t harm the aggression of his opening partner, as Konstas punished loose bowling with inventive stroke play. By the end of the powerplay, the Thunder were 1-52, being led by the young debutant.
Much like his batting innings, the introduction of Overton into the attack allowed the Strikers back into the game, with an off-cutter seeing to the end of Bancroft (6). However, it was Overton’s fellow international who got the big wicket of Sam Konstas, as Fabian Allen got a ball to go on with the arm trapping the opener LBW.
An innings of a similar rhythm to the visitors, had Davies (23) and Billings (29) combine for a steady culmination of runs, in a partnership that saw the Thunder to drinks at 3-95.
The leg-spin duo of Pope and Boyce attempted to continue from where they left off last year, however, the quick footwork and running of the batters picked at the target. As the partnership grew in aggression, so did the risk, with Davies and Billings both falling in quick succession.
Green and Rutherford were both dismissed as the required run-rate reach 14. However, 31 from the penultimate over from Daniel Sams (42*) won the game for the Thunder from nowhere. The power hitting of Sams was on full display, as he cleared the fence all around the ground.
The Adelaide Strikers will play the Melbourne Stars at Adelaide Oval this Friday 20 December.