Daniel Sams lit up the Marvel stadium with a destructive 44-ball 98 not out. Batting at number four, the all-rounder smashed the Melbourne Renegades to all parts of the ground, helping Sydney Thunders to post a mammoth 209/7 in 20 overs.
In the absence of Sam billings, Sams was promoted up the order. He launched his innings with a huge 100m six on just the second ball he faced. The New South Wales cricketer struck a total of eight sixes and seven boundaries. He finished with a strike-rate of 222.73. He reached his third BBL half-century in just 27 balls and carried on till the end. Needing six of the last ball to get to a maiden BBl century, Sams could only score a four.
Renegades won the toss and elected to field, and the Thunders took full advantage, putting on a total of 209/7 in their 20 overs. Along with Sams, Alex Hales scored 63 off 28. Kane Richardson took two wickets for the Renegades.
In reply, the Renegades found themselves struggling at 46/6 in the seventh over. Pakistan pacer Mohammad Hasnain (3/23) took the last two wickets with successive deliveries, bowling Renegades' top-scorer James Seymour (25) and Zahir Khan for zero to take his tally of wickets to six in just two games. The Renegades were eventually all out for 80 and the Thunders won by 129 runs.
The Thunders' fifth straight victory takes them up to second position in the points table, above cross-town rivals Sydney Sixers.
