What a performance from Usman Khawaja. In Sydney Thunder’s maiden final the left-handed stylist carved the Strikers all over the Adelaide Oval. It was a batting masterclass. Khawaja’s timing, power, and ability to play on both sides of the wicket meant he was able to score runs at will. He picked length particularly well, punishing anything short. There can’t be many batsmen in better form around the world right now.
Adelaide will be immensely frustrated at such a limp ending to a season in which they dominated the ladder. Their 159 always looked a little on the skinny side, especially with Brad Hodge failing to get the best out of his trump card, Adil Rashid, in the field.
Thunder will now travel to Melbourne or Perth for Sunday’s final with the Stars hosting the Scorchers tomorrow night in the remaining semi. I’ll be on deck again to take you through that one, hope to catch you then.
Thunder win by 8 wickets
18th over: Thunder 160-2 (Khawaja 104, Nicholls 35) Target: 160
Nicholls hastens the end with a slogged six off a Rashid full toss but, fittingly, it’s Khawaja who strokes the winning runs . Magnificent performance from Khawaja, single-handedly taking Sydney Thunder past Adelaide Strikers.
THUNDER WIN! What a day for the club, both teams into the #BBLFinal! That is for every member of the #ThunderNation Bring on Sunday!
— Sydney Thunder (@ThunderBBL) January 21, 2016
17th over: Thunder 151-2 (Khawaja 102, Nicholls 28) Target: 160
Tonight’s match report could be as simple as: Khawaja. He’s been so far ahead of every other performer in this game it’s almost unfair.
This one will be over in a few minutes.
CENTURY! Khawaja 100 (55)
17th over: Thunder 147-2 (Khawaja 94, Nicholls 26) Target: 160
Rain starting to fall at the Adelaide Oval with the Thunder miles ahead of the par score. Khawaja doesn’t care, bringing up his century with a mighty pull over the midwicket fence. This has been a clinic from the Australian star.
16th over: Thunder 140-2 (Khawaja 93, Nicholls 26) Target: 160
Rashid with the best over of the innings so far. Turn, bounce, variation, beating both batsmen more than once, but it’s too little too late for the Strikers. Adelaide fans must be frustrated the English leggie came on so late and only bowled his third in the 16th over.
15th over: Thunder 137-2 (Khawaja 92, Nicholls 24) Target: 160
Khawaja into the 90s with something approaching a false stroke. By that I mean it was four all the way but at least it was within diving distance of the fine-leg fielder.
Nicholls with a six and a one-bounce four. A nice way to exit BBL05 for the Kiwi after keeping Jaques Kallis’ seat warm. The South African is expected to be fit for the big dance.
"Stranger things have certainly happened" - Captain Positive @bradhodge007 isn't giving up just yet #BBLSemis pic.twitter.com/uaGHPreeV0
— TEN Sport (@tensporttv) January 21, 2016
14th over: Thunder 121-2 (Khawaja 87, Nicholls 13) Target: 160
Not much doing from that Holland over. Thunder striding towards the grand final.
13th over: Thunder 117-2 (Khawaja 85, Nicholls 11) Target: 160
Adelaide need to spark a collapse of Indian proportions to be in with a shout of making the grand final but Usman Khawaja is showing no signs of getting out any time soon, carting Neser over long-on. Nicholls looks the most likely to perish but his mistimed pull lands safely between fielders around midwicket.
Usman Khawaja's hot zone. #BBL05 pic.twitter.com/B61bArrjM8
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) January 21, 2016
12th over: Thunder 109-2 (Khawaja 80, Nicholls 8) Target: 160
Laughlin keeping the Thunder batsmen honest but Khawaja’s in cruise control tonight.
48,699 at Adelaide Oval tonight
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) January 21, 2016
11th over: Thunder 103-2 (Khawaja 78, Nicholls 4) Target: 160
Rashid’s wrongun has bamboozled batsmen all tournament, but not Khawaja, he just rocks back and slaps it through gully for four. That stroke puts the Englishman off his stride and the Australian milks a handy few more on the on-side.
10th over: Thunder 91-2 (Khawaja 68, Nicholls 2) Target: 160
Putland returns into the attack with the Thunder becalmed somewhat. Nicholls doesn’t have his eye in yet by any means and is accumulating dot balls. Khawaja holds the key to this run chase and while he’s at the crease it’s hard to see anything other than a Thunder victory.
WICKET! Hussey c Ludeman b Rashid 11 (Thunder 87-2)
9th over: Thunder 87-2 (Khawaja 67) Target: 160
Ok, here we go. This is the game, right here. Rashid on for the Strikers, and they need a miracle from the mystery spinner.
And it’s worked! Game on! Hussey tires the reverse sweep, he doesn’t connect properly and Ludeman takes a sharp chance up to the stumps. Actually, replays suggest Hussey didn’t connect at all to that. Dodgy decision against the veteran but the arrival of Rashid has done the trick.
8th over: Thunder 84-1 (Khawaja 65, Hussey 10) Target: 160
Couple of false strokes from Hussey off Head’s nudies nearly bring about a cheap dismissal. Khawaja has a word, takes control of the situation, and smashes a six over midwicket and then a four through point. Khawaja is on another level to everyone else in this game. This is elegant bullying.
7th over: Thunder 70-1 (Khawaja 55, Hussey 6) Target: 160
Khawaja’s explosive powerplay has bought his side plenty of time to milk singles from overs like this one from Neser.
Many congrats Aussie Uzzie Khawaja on the fastest 50 by a @ThunderBBL player. Just 24 balls. #BBL05 #BBLSemis
— Malcolm Conn (@malcolmconn) January 21, 2016
6th over: Thunder 64-1 (Khawaja 51, Hussey 4) Target: 160
Travis Head the next to try his luck at Khawaja and the incoming Mike Hussey. The veteran is playing in his final tournament on Australian soil but he still looks a class act in this format, leaning onto Head’s off spinners and timing them into gaps all around the Adelaide Oval.
WICKET! Watson c Lehmann b Laughlin 7 (Thunder 57-1)
5th over: Thunder 57-1 (Khawaja 48) Target: 160
Watson farms the strike for a few deliveries and shows he’s not just there to make up the numbers with a cut for four off Laughlin. He tries too hard later in the over though, pulling a delivery that skidded onto him a little quickly and straight to the hands of midwicket. A breakthrough for the Strikers, but is it enough?
4th over: Thunder 53-0 (Watson 3, Khawaja 48) Target: 160
Etch this comment in stone because you might never read it again: Watson is working the singles well at the start of his innings. He knows his partner is the man who needs to be on strike and after he milks Laughlin for one, Khawaja launches a missile into the Adelaide sky, backing it up with a pair of back foot drives on the up for fours behind point. This is exhibition stuff. And another! Four through the leg side again this time.
Watson’s faced three balls in a 50 partnership inside four overs.
#GunsGetRuns LIVE: https://t.co/C4zkRGhYKf #BBLSemis https://t.co/5MVA1FBWGl
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 21, 2016
3rd over: Thunder 34-0 (Watson 2, Khawaja 30) Target: 160
Khawaja is human after all, playing and missing twice at the start of Putland’s second over. He connects with the third though, larruping a wide long hop over the stationary gully fielder.
Was that a chance? It might have been you know. Tough one low to the left of Lehmann at short cover but that could have changed the complexion of this match in an instant. Let off for Khawaja and he rubs it in next ball with a top edge over the keeper for another boundary.
2nd over: Thunder 25-0 (Watson 1, Khawaja 22) Target: 160
Holland with left-arm spin to compliment Putland’s swing but it doesn’t matter who’s bowling to Khawaja right now he looks in such good touch. A four behind square on the leg side is followed by a lofted drive for two over extra cover. Great use of the feet from the Thunder star allows him to push a straight drive for another boundary, and he repeats the trick, only lofted this time, to complete the over with four more.
1st over: Thunder 10-0 (Watson 0, Khawaja 8) Target: 160
Deary me, what was that!? The first delivery of the Thunder reply was a huge swinging beamer from Gary Putland. Add that to the Harmison hall of shame.
Putland continues to struggle for line and length and Khawaja can’t believe his luck. Settling into his work nicely a boundary and few stride looseners.
Strikers post 159-7
That late flurry from Rashid, along with decent knocks from Ross, Neser and Head have somehow given Adelaide Strikers a half decent score. It still feels unders on this surface with the short square boundaries and Thunder’s top-heavy batting order but if Rashid can work his magic, the Strikers might be in with a sniff.
Join us in a few minutes for the run chase.
6 to finish! Rash! The crowd is riding this!! Is that a match winning finish? @StrikersBBL 7/159 #BBLSemis #BBL05 #StrikersvThunder
— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) January 21, 2016
20th over: Strikers 159-7 (Rashid 14, Laughlin 1)
Boom! Valuable late runs from Adil Rashid. A couple of overpitched deliveries outside off stump from McKay race to the cover boundary before an almighty swipe is launched over long on for six. Rashid finishes with 14 from just three deliveries and he might have just given his side a defendable total.
WICKET! Ross b McKay 47 (Strikers 144-7)
20th over: Strikers 144-7 (Rashid 0)
As good a slower ball as you could wish to see from Clint McKay. Beats the advancing Ross in the flight and the ball dips, bounces, and kisses the stumps. Wonderful deception in the final over.
WICKET! Neser b Russell 27 (Strikers 142-6)
19th over: Strikers 142-6 (Ross 45)
Neser with another boundary, this time off Russell. The West Indian has his revenge at the end of the over though, a yorker hitting the base of off stump as Neser misses an ungainly lap sweep.
18th over: Strikers 136-5 (Ross 44, Neser 22)
Mark Waugh’s ‘find of the tournament’ Clint McKay comes on to bowl. That would be the same McKay that took out Australia’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award in 2013.
Neser and Ross finally start smiting some boundaries with consistency and rack up the Strikers’ best over of the match so far. Some momentum building for the home side, the crowd are getting involved and a decent total could be reached after all.
17th over: Strikers 118-5 (Ross 39, Neser 9)
Russell not the bowler any side wants to see come on when they’re desperate for runs but Neser’s not overawed, smashing the first boundary for four overs through midwicket. He follows that up with an inside edge for two and the Adelaide Oval crowd reminds us there’s a full house enduring this lacklustre performance.
Hands up if you're having a blinder today #BBLSemis pic.twitter.com/d2siImcMXG
— TEN Sport (@tensporttv) January 21, 2016
16th over: Strikers 110-5 (Ross 38, Neser 2)
Nothing happening out there for the Strikers. No fluency from any of the batsmen with the occasional wicket thrown in for good measure. Watson finishes with a handy 2/28 from his four overs.
WICKET! Lehmann c Green b Watson 14 (Strikers 106-5)
16th over: Strikers 106-5 (Ross 36)
Lehmann tries to take on Watson, miscues a hefty drive and Green takes a simple catch jogging in from mid-on. I’d like to say the wheels are falling off this Strikers innings but I’m not sure they were ever screwed on to begin with.
15th over: Strikers 105-4 (Ross 35, Lehmann 14)
McAndrew back on and the Strikers try to line him up but they can’t time anything that reaches the boundary.
14th over: Strikers 100-4 (Ross 30, Lehmann 13)
Chris Green rattling through his work, finishing with 1/20 from his four overs. Terrific spell from the man in green. Green in Green.
13th over: Strikers 94-4 (Ross 29, Lehmann 8)
Watson back on and Ross uses the extra pace to finesse a boundary through the vacant slip cordon while Lehmann capitalises on the extra bounce to whip a pull behind square.
12th over: Strikers 84-4 (Ross 24, Lehmann 4)
Fifth over of spin in a row for the Thunder and the Strikers batsmen are so wary of going after Green they barely tap it off the square. A lacklustre innings from the ladder leaders so far.
11th over: Strikers 80-4 (Ross 22, Lehmann 2)
Ross begins the counterattack with a hat-trick of swept boundaries against Fawad. Not a great over from the leggie; long-hops, full tosses and no real strategy to address the premeditated sweeps.
10th over: Strikers 66-4 (Ross 8, Lehmann 0)
Halfway through the Strikers’ innings and they are in disarray. It will take something special from an unlikely hero for the home side to post something competitive.
WICKET! Hodge b Green 14 (Strikers 64-4)
10th over: Strikers 64-4 (Ross 8, Lehmann 0)
Another massive blow for the Strikers as Hodge tries to cart Green into the Adelaide Hills, misses and trudges off without even turning to see the Zing bails glowing on the turf.
9th over: Strikers 61-3 (Hodge 13, Ross 6)
The experienced Hodge realises it’s time to accelerate and sweeps Fawad Ahmed for a big six. Projected totals even at 8 rpo are still under 150. Below par you’d fancy on this deck.
8th over: Strikers 53-3 (Hodge 6, Ross 5)
Green with the first over of spin for the night, bowling offies from around the wicket to the right handers. Economical and drawing comparisons to Roger Harper.
Any excuse to celebrate one of the great fielders.
7th over: Strikers 48-3 (Hodge 4, Ross 2)
Watson back on and his tight line keeps the Strikers boundary-less.
Watson with 33 on his back, perhaps in a deferential nod to Mr 333, Universe Boss, Chris Gayle? Or perhaps not...
Oh dear Travis. Oh dear Strikers
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) January 21, 2016
6th over: Strikers 44-3 (Hodge 2, Ross 1)
With that scalp @clintmckay27 moves above @AdilRashid03 in #BBL05 wickets tally (16). What a season for him. Reminding why thrived in ODIs.
— Jesse Hogan (@Jesse_Hogan) January 21, 2016
WICKET! Head c Rohrer b McKay 23 (Strikers 42-3)
6th over: Strikers 42-3 (Hodge 1, Ross 0)
Head welcomes McKay back to the attack with a beautiful square drive all along the Adelaide Oval carpet for four. McKay extracts his revenge in a big way though with a wicket that could shape the rest of this match. A full delivery is driven hard by Head but straight to the short cover fielder who makes no mistake. It’s easy being green right now.
5th over: Strikers 37-2 (Head 19, Hodge 1)
Russell does get another early crack but it doesn’t work out well for his team. Head tucks into the first delivery, carving it to the point boundary, before the beautiful old scoreboard advances by five courtesy of a trampoline bouncer. Head looks in good nick.
4th over: Strikers 22-2 (Head 10, Hodge 0)
Head gets the Strikers innings moving with a brace of boundaries off McAndrew. Thunder official Mark Waugh is filthy on commentary that Hussey hasn’t maintained the pressure on the Strikers by giving Russell or Watson another over.
3rd over: Strikers 13-2 (Head 2, Hodge 0)
Brilliant start by Sydney Thunder. The new ball is doing a bit and it’s caught Adelaide Strikers off guard. The Strikers don’t bat too deep so you’d fancy one of these two at the crease will need to go big if the home side are to post a score.
WICKET! Ludeman c Russell b Mckay 2 (Strikers 11-2)
3rd over: Strikers 11-2 (Ludeman 2, Head 1)
Thunder have got the ball talking early. Clint McKay the latest to find good shape and after beating Ludeman’s outside edge the Strikers batsman mistimes an ambitious drive, sending the ball looping over mid-off where Andre Russell runs back with the flight and takes a smart catch.
Huge start for the visitors.
2nd over: Strikers 11-1 (Ludeman 2, Head 1)
Great over from Watson. Full, swing, probing, rewarded with the wicket of Jayawardena.
WICKET! Jayawardena c Hartley b Watson 7 (Strikers 8-1)
2nd over: Strikers 8-1 (Jayawardena 7, Ludeman 1)
Watson to share responsibilities early on and his second delivery is flicked effortlessly into the crowd beyond the midwicket boundary by Jayawardena.
The burly allrounder then shapes one beautifully away from the Sri Lankan, repeating the trick next ball and finding an outside edge for a regulation catch behind the wicket.
1st over: Strikers 2-0 (Jayawardena 1, Ludeman 1)
Andre Russell has the first crack for the Thunder and he’s up against the Sri Lankan legend Jayawardena and T20 superstar gloveman Ludeman.
Russell’s on the money from the off, fast, mixing up his lengths and getting good carry. To Ludeman, his skipper Mike Hussey has given him a slip and a short leg. Good start for the Thunder.
@JPHowcroft Have to feel sorry for Henry Nicholls, even his employers don't seem to know what he looks like.
— phil withall (@phil_withall) January 21, 2016
Unless he took his Johnny Cash impersonation a little too far during the photoshoot?
Toss
Brad Hodge won the toss and Adelaide Strikers will bat first on a hot dry night in Adelaide. The pitch? It’s the Adelaide Oval. ‘Nuff said.
.@StrikersBBL have one the toss and elected to bat #BBLSemis #BBL05 pic.twitter.com/FZRmG7lMWF
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 21, 2016
Team line-ups
Adelaide make two changes from their last outing with Jayawardena and Putland coming in for Dean and West.
Here's our semi-final XI: XI: Ludeman, Jayawardena, Head, Hodge (c), Ross, Lehmann, Neser, Rashid, Laughlin, Holland, Putland #BBLSemis
— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) January 21, 2016
Sydney are still without the injured Jaques Kallis, meaning Kiwi allrounder Henry Nicholls continues in the side.
Here's tonight's XI brought to you by HomeWorld #ThunderNation #BBLSemis pic.twitter.com/yDE5lMerJO
— Sydney Thunder (@ThunderBBL) January 21, 2016
Preamble
Strap yourselves in folks because it’s finals time in the Big Bash League.
First up we’ve got Adelaide Strikers hosting Sydney Thunder in front of a sell-out Adelaide Oval. The Strikers finished the regular season on top of the ladder, losing just once all season and never in front of their home fans. Their roster includes Adil Rashid, the tournament’s leading wicket taker, as well as Travis Head and Tim Ludeman, two of the top five run scorers. In case you were wondering, that solitary defeat was to the Thunder.
Sydney Thunder are making their first appearance in a BBL final but in Clint McKay and Andre Russell they boast two of the top three wicket takers in the competition, while Mike Hussey is second on the run scoring charts. In Usman Khawaja they also have arguably the form batsman of the Australian summer across all formats.
Throw in the likes of Mahela Jayawardene, Shane Watson, and Brad Hodge, set it against an Adelaide Oval under lights and you have the makings of one of the highlights of the sporting summer.
It’s business time!
Jonathan will be here shortly. In the meantime, revel in the good news that Kevin Pietersen has committed to the Melbourne Stars for another two seasons.
