BBL match temporarily suspended after nasty Sams-Bancroft collision

The Big Bash League match between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder at the Optus Stadium in Perth on January 3 (Friday) was temporarily halted after a horror collision between Thunder players Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams. 

The collision that led to the suspension occurred in the 16th over of the match, in which the Scorchers were batting first. 

Cooper Connolly miscued a leg-side half-volley from Lockie Ferguson, and as the ball stayed miles in the air on the on-side, two fielders - Bancroft and Sams - converged to hold on to it. Both fielders had their eyes on the ball and were unaware that the other person was also looking to pouch the catch. 

As a result, Bancroft, who was running backwards, crashed into Sams at full speed. Sams was trying to dive forward and take the catch but instead, he got completely cleaned up by Bancroft. Both players hit the ground instantly. While Bancroft immediately held his hands to his face in pain, Sams lay on the ground, barely moving an inch. Bancroft was able to walk off the field with the help of the physio, albeit with a bloody nose. However, Sams had to be stretchered out. 

The devastating impact of the clash temporarily halted the game as everyone involved pondered the next move. Eventually, the game restarted after a few minutes. Liam Hatcher replaced Sams as a concussion substitute. 

The Scorchers eventually finished with 177/4, with Connolly hitting an unbeaten 43.