England batter Sam Billings dazzled in Sydney Thunder’s victory with his best performance till date in Big Bash League (BBL) career. Billings scored 64 runs from just 27 deliveries including five fours and five sixes. His fourth BBL half-century came at a strike rate of 237.04 and helped Thunder post 196/7 and beat Brisbane Heat by a big margin of 53 runs.
Billings came in to bat no.4 after opener Alex Hales’ wicket in the 11th over. The top order had set a good platform to build on. Mathew Gilkes scored a 22-ball 28 whereas Hales contributed with a 26-ball 35. Billings and Sangha dominated Brisbane bowlers in the middle overs. James Bazley felt the brunt of it as he went for 16 runs in the 12th over. Billings hit him for a six followed by a boundary in the last two balls. The two shared a 65-run partnership for third wicket off just 31 deliveries. Sangha departed for 39 runs off 28 deliveries.
With little support from other end, Billings continued his hitting spree in the death overs. He lost his wicket in the 19th over to Bazley after hitting him for a six and a four off consecutive deliveries again. Bazley turned out to be the most expensive bowler in the Brisbane bowling lineup as he conceded 52 runs from his four overs.
Epic collapse and record-breaking recovery
In reply, Brisbane batting lineup collapsed like a pack of cards. They were reduced for 15/5 in the third over as England bowler Saqib Mahmood wreaked havoc with the new ball taking four wickets in just two overs. Somehow, Brisbane saved themselves from getting bundled out early with Tom Cooper taking on the bowlers but they lost two quick wickets again and were reduced to 60/7 in the ninth over.
Lower order batters Xavier Bartlett saved the side from embarrassment and even managed to keep the run chase alive while they were present in the middle. The two shared a record-breaking 79-run stand for the eighth wicket off 53 deliveries. While Steketee got out in the 17th over after scoring 33 runs off 24 deliveries, Bartlett remained unbeaten till the end.
Tailenders Mitchell Swepson and Mujeeb Ur Rahman fell to Tanveer Sangha in the 18th over with Bartlett stranded on the other end for his career-best 42 off 29 deliveries. He hit three fours and one six in his 42-run knock which is also his best score across all formats. In the end, Brisbane were bundled out for 143 with 15 balls still to go.
