Right then! That is all we have from this clash! We have another match coming up though. The venue remains the same, the big and magnificent MCG and Adelaide Strikers will face Melbourne Stars in that game. The first ball will be bowled at 1:45 pm IST (8:15 am GMT) but join my colleagues for the buildup that begins much earlier. See you there!
Alex Hales is the Player of the Match for his unbeaten knock of 80. He says that it wasn't an easy wicket to bat on and initially it was helping the bowlers. Adds that he tried to enjoy himself during the quarantine period and kept things simple. Tells that it is his third year with Sydney Thunder and they are a good bunch of players. Mentions that he is not superstitious at all and he enjoys himself playing in the Big Bash League.
A tough game for Hobart Hurricanes. They did get the wicket of Gilkes quite early but the target was never big enough to put Thunder under a lot of pressure. The spin duo of Short and Lamichhane bowled really well with Short getting the wicket but the rest of the bowlers had a tough game. They were let down by their batting as this total was just not enough on this deck.
Sydney Thunder had a nice start at the top with Gilkes and Hales scoring at a nice pace. But the wicket of Gilkes set them back a bit. Scoring became difficult as the spinners came on and they even lost the Bash Boost point. But never did they panic as they had wickets in hand and the target was low. Sangha turned up the heat a bit and took off the pressure. But it was the striking of Hales that sealed the deal. He took a fair bit of time to get to his fifty but once the Power Surge was taken, there was no stopping him. He ended with a score of 80* from just 56 balls and sealed the deal.
An easy win for Sydney Thunder and they get their sixth win in a row. They are looking in great form and this game was another demonstration of just that.
SYDNEY THUNDER
140/1 (17.2)
80* (56)
35* (31)
1/9 (3)
0/18 (2)
Over 18
0
4
Jason Sangha*
35 (31)
Alex Hales
80 (56)
Sandeep Lamichhane
0/21 (3.2)
THU
140/1
4
17.2
Sandeep Lamichhane to Jason Sangha ,FOUR! There it is! Jason Sangha finishes things off with a boundary! Flatter and quicker, on a length, outside off. Sangha stays back and cuts it past the cover-point fielder. The ball races away to the fence. Sydney Thunder WIN THE MATCH BY 9 WICKETS!
0
17.1
Sandeep Lamichhane to Jason Sangha ,Flatter ball, on a length, outside off. Jason Sangha drives it to the cover fielder.
Over 17
4
4
0
wd
4
6
0
Alex Hales*
80 (56)
Jason Sangha
31 (29)
Riley Meredith
0/29 (3)
THU
136/1
0
16.6
Riley Meredith to Alex Hales ,Banged into the deck, around middle. Hales ducks underneath! 4 runs needed off 18 balls now!
6
16.5
Riley Meredith to Alex Hales ,SIX! What a clean strike and Hales is in a hurry to finish things off at the MCG! Length ball, around off. Hales clears his front leg and frees his arms to send the ball sailing over long on for a biggie.
4
16.4
Riley Meredith to Alex Hales ,FOUR! Whoaa, that is some shot from Hales! Back of a length, around leg. Hales stays back, gets inside the line of the ball and whips it behind square on the leg side for a boundary. A brilliant no-look-pull shot by Hales.
wd
16.4
Riley Meredith to Alex Hales ,Wide! Full ball, angling down leg. Alex Hales misses his flick and the umpire stretches his arms to signal it as a wide.
0
16.3
Riley Meredith to Alex Hales ,Swing and a miss! Short of a length, following the batter as Hales backs away to make room on the off side, Hales looks for a massive heave but fails to get any bat on it.
4
16.2
Riley Meredith to Alex Hales ,FOUR! CLUBBED! Back of a length, outside off. Hales stands tall and bludgeons it over mid-wicket for another boundary.
4
16.1
Riley Meredith to Alex Hales ,FOUR! Nicely done! Banged into the deck, around leg. Alex Hales works it behind square on the leg side and bags a boundary.
Over 16
4
0
0
4
4
1
Alex Hales*
63 (50)
Jason Sangha
31 (29)
Thomas Rogers
0/33 (3)
THU
117/1
1
15.6
Thomas Rogers to Alex Hales ,Full ball, outside off. Alex Hales squeezes it out towards point for a run. 23 runs needed off 24 balls.
4
15.5
Thomas Rogers to Alex Hales ,FOUR! Streaky but Hales wouldn't mind that at all! Fuller in length, outside off. Hales looks to dig it out but it goes off the thick inside edge past the leg stump and it races away towards the fine leg fence.