Sydney Thunders made a fabulous start to the Big Bash League (BBL) as they overcame Brisbane Heat with a seven-wicket win. It was a one-sided contest as Alex Ross (61) and Sam Billings (45) took the Sydney-based franchise home with 17 balls to spare. Ross adjudged ‘Man of the Match’ capitulated misery on his former side with a match-winning knock.
The encounter played at Manuka Oval in Canberra was attended by more than 13,000 fans. After winning the bat flip, Sydney captain Chris Green decided to bowl first. After losing their openers early, it was Ben Duckett’s 46 off 35 and Sam Heazlett’s 42 off 37 deliveries that propelled the ship for Brisbane. The two batters put up a third-wicket stand of 83 runs. However, once both the batters were dismissed within a couple of overs it was a titanic collapse for the Brisbane as they were reduced to 140 in their 20 overs. Daniel Sams was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets in his four overs, while Gurinder Sandhu and Nathan McAndrew both picked up a couple of wickets.
In response, it wasn’t a great start for the Thunders as opener Alex Hales was dismissed on the second ball of the innings as Xavier Bartlett choked him off for a duck. Sam Whiteman (11) and Matthew Gilkes (20) soon followed Hales back to the dressing room as Thunders were in a vulnerable position at 32/3. However, Ross and Billings put up an unbeaten stand of 109 runs to see off the competition from the Heat. Ross with seven fours and two sixes was the top scorer with 61 off 46 and was adjudged ‘Man of the Match’.
Ross’s heroics were a bittersweet memory for Heats as their former player came back to bite them. Ross had a breakthrough season with Heat in the 2015-16 season and was rewarded with the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year award at the Allan Border Medal night in January 2016. Next for Thunders is Melbourne Stars at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on December 10 while Heats will face Perth Scorchers on December 8 in Perth.
