DANIEL SAMS HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH. Sams says that he just gave himself a chance wth the bat. Adds that he tried to play normal cricketing shots and once set, tried to go big. On receiving praise from Ricky Ponting, who was also his coach at Delhi in the Indian T20 League, Daniel details that he tries to keep his hands down and then use all his power. Basically, he stresses that he uses plenty of bottom hand to generate power in his shots. Admits that the Thunder dugout was rattled after losing 3 wickets in the Powerplay but with a deep batting line-up, they were calm and managed to recover. Wishes to have got 4 points but is happy with 3 for now.
That's all we have from this epic match! If you have a never-say-die attitude then anything is possible. Sydney Thunder proved that to us this evening. What's next then? Wait a minute, Hobart Hurricanes and Adelaide Strikers are meeting again. Didn't they play each other on Sunday? They surely did and Hobart prevailed in that encounter. Right then, with revenge in mind, Adelaide Strikers will approach this match and it will get underway at 1915 local (0815 GMT). Do join us for all the exciting action. Cheers!
What went wrong for Brisbane Heat? Probably, they were caught off-guard by the counter-attacking stand between Cutting and Sams. Still, they could have done well. There were poor execution of plans and Ricky Ponting (on air) minced no words as he termed their bowling effort at the death as pathetic. Plenty of work needed for them now as they have started their season with two losses, just like the last term.
We all were in awe of Jack Wildermuth's cameo with the bat and then his impressive show with the ball. He was destined for the Man of the Match award and to snatch it away from him needed something spectacular. And spectacular it was from Daniel Sams. He too was handy with the ball but his heroics with the bat took the wind out of Heats' sails and a victory which looked impossible at one stage was achieved with 7 balls to spare. Stunning!
This match was easily done and dusted inside the Powerplay as Sydney Thunder lost three wickets. You don't often see teams winning after such a shoddy start but this match was an exception. They were reeling after four overs and the talks all around were to at least gather the Bash Boost point. Thunder decided to aim for it and the pair of Ross and Holt went hammer and tongs. Although they missed out on achieving that one point, their efforts pushed the scoring rate up and provided them with a platform to actually go for the main target. Still, it could not have been possible had Cutting and Sams not combined for a 69-run stand. Chris Lynn would be regretting his unfriendly welcome to Ben at the crease as that pumped up the ex-Brisbane Heat member and as they say, the rest is history.
Insane hitting by Daniel Sams! If you switched off your television sets after watching the first four overs of this chase, you are surely going to regret. Daniel Sams has emerged as a perfect answer for Jack Wildermuth's all-round brilliance in this match! What an amazing game!
In over# 1
6
6
6
0
0
7nb
Ben Laughlin 56/0(3.5)
18.5
6
SIX! Three lusty blows and SYDNEY THUNDER HAVE WON BY 4 WICKETS! Wow, take a bow, Daniel Sams. Laughlin overpitches this one, around off, Sams throws all his power behind this shot and smacks it over extra cover for a biggie. Sams jumps in joy, four sixes in the over, a bit like a Carlos Brathwaite moment for him.
18.4
6
SIX! Sams is unstoppable at the moment! Only 5 needed now! Back of a length ball around off, Sams turns inside the crease and muscles it over mid-wicket.
18.3
6
SIX! THAT'S AN EPIC FIFTY FOR SAMS! Laughlin fails to nail his yorker, delivers a friendly full toss and Sams has clubbed it over mid-wicket. He is batting like a train on fire.
18.2
.
Two superb deliveries! Very full and outside off, Sams tries to squeeze it out but fails to do so.
18.1
.
Good delivery for a Free Hit! Spears in a very full ball, just around leg, Sams shuffles across and misses to flick. That wasn't too far away from the leg pole.
18.1
7nb
SIX! What a start to the over! A high full toss, around off, Sams moves across and launches it behind square leg. It's a no ball for being above the waist and Free Hit is loading...
Ben Laughlin (3-0-31-0) to bowl the pressure over.
In over# 1
2
4
0
0
0W
2
Mark Steketee 35/1(4)
17.6
2
Ouch, that would have hurt! Fuller and on off, Green rifles his drive straight back, Steketee sticks his boot out and deflects it towards long on. Two taken. 24 needed off two overs.
The 69-run partnership between Ben Cutting and Daniel Sams for the sixth wickets is the highest for Thunders in BBL.
17.5
4
FOUR! Green connects this time. He stands back to a shortish ball and whacks it down to long off for a boundary.
17.4
.
Steketee goes for his variation this time. Shortish and on middle, arrives late than anticipated, Green swishes and misses.