A batting masterclass from Colin Munro wasn’t sufficient for the Brisbane Warmth as Daniel Sams starred throughout all three disciplines to encourage his Sydney Thunder to an exciting BBL victory, which included a controversial final-over transfer by the umpires.
Regardless of wickets tumbling round him at Metricon Stadium on Thursday, Munro nearly single-handedly saved the Warmth within the contest on a humid Gold Coast evening, placing his crew right into a place the place it required 16 runs off the ultimate over. That equation quickly grew to become 14 runs off six balls after Sydney fast Nathan McAndrew was referred to as for a waist-high no-ball off the primary ball of the twentieth over.
However two balls later, the umpires opted to alter the moist Kookaburra for a dry ball – a transfer that left Australian legend Brett Lee fuming within the commentary field.
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McAndrew then bowled the laborious ball into the pitch and Munro heaved the ball into the leg-side, just for Sams to tug off an excellent catch within the deep and dismiss the Kiwi worldwide for a surprising innings of 98, which basically killed off the Warmth’s hopes of their second victory of the summer time.
McAndrew then dismissed Michael Neser and Matthew Kuhnemann to cap off his over and end with 4-31, handing the Thunder a hard-fought 11-run win.
“You possibly can’t change a ball now, I’m sorry. I do know it’s laborious for the bowlers, however you’ve performed 19.1 overs (with the identical ball),” Lee instructed Fox Cricket.
“I’m not satisfied in regards to the ball change – not within the final over.
“Superb from McAndrew. Undoubtedly helps although with a ball you may maintain onto … I don’t assume it’s proper.
Requested if he thought the bowling aspect was put better off, Lee mentioned: “Yeah I do.”
Sams’ heroics within the subject got here after his gorgeous 15-ball blitz with the bat earlier within the evening, whereas he additionally took 2-41 with the ball.
The Thunder recovered from a sluggish begin with the bat, smashing 86 runs from the final six overs of their innings to complete with 6-182 — their highest BBL rating of the summer time thus far.
Sams was the chief destroyer for the Thunder, smashing 4 sixes and two fours to stay unbeaten on 36 from 15 balls.
“He received his function proper tonight, Sams,” Fox Cricket’s Brad Haddin mentioned.
“His greatest energy is his brute energy. Tonight he gave himself a strong base and muscled the ball to the boundary. It was nice energy hitting.”
Warmth paceman James Bazley was clearly the choose of the Brisbane bowlers, ending with 4-22. He bowled a disciplined remaining over, taking the wickets of Alex Ross and McAndrew in consecutive deliveries to make sure the Warmth wouldn’t push their whole past 181.
Star spinner Mitch Swepson was hopeful of pushing his case for a Check re-call however suffered a rolled ankle whereas warming up with teammates and limped from Metricon Stadium.
He was deemed match to play, however appeared ginger and struggled to grip the ball within the greasy situations, with Sams taking a selected liking to him.
Ollie Davies produced an almighty heave off Ross Whiteley and over the long-on boundary for six, with a fan’s crowd catch try nearly ending in catastrophe as he collided with the grandstand seats laborious.
The Thunder then continued their momentum with the ball, with Max Bryant out within the first over of the innings for simply 4 earlier than Matt Renshaw went for a duck due to a pointy catch by Chris Inexperienced off Sams’ bowling.
Renshaw initially held his floor after Inexperienced grasped the ball, earlier than Inexperienced put his finger as much as sign ‘out’ and pointed to the Warmth dressing room in a cheeky suggestion of the place Renshaw would head subsequent.
“Ooh received to watch out there,” Haddin mentioned.
“I like his confidence Chris Inexperienced, however …”
Lee shortly added: “They’re not robots … that’s fantastic.
Munro received going for the Warmth late within the powerplay, smashing 4 fours and two sixes in a surprising two-over interval.
“He’s taking part in on a special floor to all the opposite Warmth batsmen tonight,” Haddin mentioned of Munro.
Bowler Inexperienced and keeper Matthew Gilkes then mixed fantastically, with Inexperienced deceiving Sam Billings in mid-air and permitting Gilkes to tug off an excellent stumping.
“This was excellent holding by Gilkes … that’s bounced lots, he takes it at shoulder top … as keepers these are those you need,” Haddin mentioned.
Gilkes’ epic evening with the gloves continued just a few overs later, pulling off a surprising one-handed diving catch to dismiss opposing keeper Jimmy Peirson off McAndrew’s bowling.
“What an evening he’s having behind the stumps,” Haddin mentioned.
“He’s moved fantastically, proper tempo, what a dive, he’s rolled fantastically – take a bow!”
With the Warmth slumping to 5-102, Munro continued to pile on the runs, passing 50 off 26 balls.
“That’s pretty much as good a 50 as you’ll see with carnage throughout him. He’s barely mistimed a ball,” Haddin mentioned.
Munro discovered help from Bazley, who made 29 off 24 balls to assist the Warmth to 5-150. However Thunder spinner Usman Qadir pulled out a terrific faster ship to entice Bazley in entrance LBW.
Munro pushed into the 90s as he and Michael Neser took 12 runs off the penultimate over to arrange an exciting end.
However the Thunder prevailed — maybe with a bit little bit of assist from a dry ball.
Initially revealed as ‘I don’t assume it’s proper’: Lee shocked by final-over transfer in controversial end to tight Thunder win
