BBL Review – Thunder Go Top With Convincing Win

Four BBL games in four days after the Christmas break have seen the Brisbane Heat lose twice as their challenge seems to have disappeared already. Elsewhere, there were good wins for the Stars, who got their first victory, and the Thunder, who moved to the top of the table.

 

Game 9 – Saturday 26 December

Brisbane Heat – 117/7 (20) – Lynn 75* – Tye 3-23, Behrendorff 2-32

Perth Scorchers – 118/1 (15.1) – Klinger 53*, Harris 36 – Fekete 1-16

Perth Scorchers win by nine wickets.

Lendl Simmons was out on his first ball, and it was a sign of things to come for the Heat in their innings. That brought Chris Lynn to the crease. He would be there at the end, but he would get no help off his teammates. Lynn finished 75 not out, but no one else got past 10. Andrew Tye was the pick of the bowlers with 3-23, with Jason Behrendorff taking two wickets as well.

The Scorchers came out firing, putting on an opening partnership of 48, with Marcus Harris getting 36 of those before losing his wicket. That was the only one to fall for the Scorchers, with Michael Klinger and Ashton Agar taking the Perth side home with five overs left. The captain, Klinger, got his fifty, finishing 53 not out, while Agar finished not out 24. An easy win for the Scorchers.

 

Game 10 – Sunday 27 December

Sydney Sixers – 139/6 (20) – Henriques 41*, Silk 35 – Hilfenhaus 2-25, Beer 1-16

Melbourne Stars – 143/5 (18.4) – Handscomb 52, Maxwell 50 – Bollinger 2-31, Bird 1-13

Melbourne Stars win by five wickets.

Both Brad Haddin and Michael Lumb were dismissed early for the Sixers, bringing Maddinson and Henriques to the crease. The two put on a good partnership, before both left the crease. First Maddinson was bowled before Henriques retired hurt. Silk chipped in with 35, but Hilfenhaus took two quick wickets to stem the flow of runs.

The Stars’ innings started badly, with Marcus Stoinis bowled third ball. A great partnership from Glenn Maxwell and Peter Handscomb, with both batsmen reaching their half-centuries, helped take the Stars to within striking distance of their target. David Hussey then came in to strike 24 from just 15 to give the Stars their first win of the tournament.

 

Game 11 – Monday 28 December

Adelaide Strikers – 117/9 (20) – Hodge 34, Rashid 25 – McKay 2-18, Russell 2-28

Sydney Thunder – 121/3 (16.3) – Kallis 49*, Blizzard 35 – Laughlin 2-22, Simmons 1-5

Sydney Thunder win by seven wickets.

It started badly for the Strikers, with Ludeman out first ball. From then on, they did not look like posting a high total. Jayawardene hit 21 with Brad Hodge hitting 34 from 33, but that was all the middle order could muster. Both Andre Russell and Clint McKay took two wickets, before Adil Rashid hit a late 25 to push the Strikers up to 117.

Aiden Blizzard came out firing, hitting 35 off 29, while his opening partner, the South African, Jacques Kallis, batted right through the innings, playing the anchor role. He finished 49 not out. Both Shane Watson and Andre Russell hit a few, and despite Ben Laughlin taking two wickets, the Thunder were always winning this one.

 

Game 12 – Tuesday 29 December

Hobart Hurricanes – 194/4 (20) – Christian 56*, Sangakkara 32 – Badree 2-27

Brisbane Heat – 179/9 (20) – Lynn 101, Heazlett 26 – Reed 3-31, Boyce 2-22

Hobart Hurricanes win by 15 runs.

The Hurricanes came out and played with intent, with both Ben Dunk and Tim Paine, the Hobart captain, got to 27 and 25 respectively, before Samuel Badree dismissed both of them. From there, Kumar Sangakkara and George Bailey both got into the 30s before losing their wickets, but it was Dan Christian, whose 56 from just 24, moved the Hurricanes up to 194 off their 20 overs.

When the Heat lost both Simmons and Peirson quickly, they were struggling at 7/2, but a fantastic century from Brisbane captain, Chris Lynn, brought them back into the match. He hit 101 off just 51 deliveries, but he was never really helped when Sam Heazlett was dismissed for 26. Jake Reed took three quick wickets, as well as helping two run outs to stop the Heat on their chase.

 

Points Table

Thunder – 3, 6

Sixers – 4, 4

Strikers – 3, 4

Hurricanes – 3, 4

Scorchers – 2, 2

Stars – 2, 2

Renegades – 2, 2

Heat – 4, 0