After a horrid start, the Scorchers were just too good tonight. Cam Bancroft (who is man of the match) and Ashton Agar batted gloriously when the big guns didn’t fire, while all their bowlers impressed, especially Hogg, Tye, Behrendorff and Paris, who is off with Australia tomorrow. They got Dre Russ just when they needed to, and are top of the table for their troubles.
Thunder are travelling south, and fast. They have lost three on the bounce and need to win their next two for a semi-final, you’d think.
Anyway, it’s getting late so that’s a wrap. Thanks for joining me, hope you’ve enjoyed your evening. We’ll be back with more BBL OBOs next week. See you then!
THAT IS THAT. Scorchers win by 30 runs
20th over: Sydney Thunder 137-9 (Hartley 7, McKay 14) CHASING 176)
In a strange conversation, Mark Waugh - who is absolutely spewing that Thunder have been drubbed - starts angrily bemoaning the fact that he retired before T20 cricket came in, and bitterly having a go at Ricky Ponting who was able to cash in a bit before retiring. Odd from Junior.
Anyway, the last over happened, and the night actually ended with a wonderful uppish cover drive for four from Fawad Ahmed, of all people. Hell of a shot, but all too late. They were thrashed.
Updated
WICKET! McKay c Harris b Tye 14 (Thunder 137-9)
McKay hoicks Tye to leg for four, then misses a slog. The third slog sounds beautifully struck but he’s caught at long-on by Marcus Harris, who does a funny little dance. Good on him.
19th over: Sydney Thunder 133-8 (Hartley 7, McKay 10) CHASING 176)
Australia’s Paris Joel is bowling again. Hartley and McKay have neither the ideas nor the ability to get this very clever bowling away, and there’s no shame in that. After another few ugly singles, McKay actually slices away into the offside for two. Interesting week ahead with the Aussie ODI players off to camp tomorrow.
18th over: Sydney Thunder 126-8 (Hartley 5, McKay 6) CHASING 176)
Normally Tye comes on at the death with heaps of pressure. Not tonight. They need about a million an over, and neither of the batsmen are likely to get many (sorry lads). It’s a very uneventful over, a couple of leg byes and a few ugly singles. 49 required from two overs. CAN THEY DO IT? CAN THEY?
17th over: Sydney Thunder 122-8 (Hartley 4, McKay 4) CHASING 176)
McKay gets three from a misfield, and they trade singles as we play out time. The Thunder are heading south, and the commentators are talking about George Bailey playing tennis.
WICKET! Rohrer c Willey b Paris 14 (Thunder 116-8)
There’s your game. Rohrer slaps charming Paris straight to Willey at mid-off. Dre Russ’s wicket really did for Thunder. They’ve lost three wickets for two runs lately.
This, on Green’s awful little innings:
Quite an effort to get stumped after barely surviving two stumpings in a row. #BBL05
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) January 7, 2016
Updated
16th over: Sydney Thunder 116-7 (Rohrer 14, Hartley 2) CHASING 176)
Hogg ends his spell with 2-25 as new man Chris Hartley pushes to leg and scampers two. Well run, well bowled. It is quite literally all Ben Rohrer now.
WICKET! Green st Bancroft b Hogg 0 (Thunder 114-7)
The unbelievably beautiful Chris Green is in next. He’s beaten consecutively by Hogg when trying to sweep. He just can’t pick him. Third ball he comes down and is beaten by a big spinner, and Bancroft does the rest. Easay.
WICKET! McDonald c Klinger b Hogg 7 (Thunder 114-6)
Hogg’s back and McDonald immediately picks out Klinger, on his own in acres of space at midwicket. Poor shot, and McDonald never looked quite with it, sadly.
Updated
15th over: Sydney Thunder 114-5 (Rohrer 14, McDonald 7) CHASING 176
More Willey (hur hur hur). Rohrer plays a pair of lovely strokes for four. The first clears mid-off and runs away, and the next is a lovely conventional pull shot. Sam result. Willey recovers well though, and there are only two more from the over.
14th over: Sydney Thunder 104-5 (Rohrer 5, McDonald 6) CHASING 176
That last Russell six was the second longest of the comp. It was 116m, which is very, very big. Good news is a similarly dynamic batsman, Andrew McDonald has replaced him, and he’s away with a chinese cut for four. Shot, boy.
WICKET! Russell c Paris b Behrendorff 42 (Thunder 97-5)
Behrendorff’s back, and you do not bowl there to Dre Russ. It’s a wide full toss and is just sent 116 metres back for an enormous six over midwicket. Amazing. That’s his fifth.
But after he leaves one - what? - he’s gone. There’s another massive swipe and it goes mighty high, and Paris take a great diving catch at square leg. I’m gutted.
13th over: Sydney Thunder 91-4 (Russell 36, Rohrer 4) CHASING 176
David Willey back, and there’s a wonderful textbook cover drive from Rohrer for one first ball. The next stroke is not textbook, a short ball just sent for six with a no-look swiped pull. Dre Russ falls over when sliding back into the crease. After a single each, there’s another flat swing over the bowler’s head when standing deep in the crease. What a shot that is. Six more. Willey goes round the wicket and Russell nudges to long-off to keep the strike.
The back of Russell’s bat is very matter of fact. It just says: Big Hitter. Cannae argue.
12th over: Sydney Thunder 75-4 (Russell 22, Rohrer 2) CHASING 176
GB Hogg’s just doing his thing, as they take a single each off the first two. But he’s dropped short, and Russell’s hit a hard, flat six wide of mid-on. Baseball style, that. Three singles follow, then he goes again. It’s higher and straighter this time but the result is the same! Six! 16 from it.
Hard to disagree:
AJ Tye! Big chance for World T20.
— Matt Somerford (@somerfjord) January 7, 2016
Updated
11th over: Sydney Thunder 59-4 (Russell 8, Rohrer 1) CHASING 176
Russell tries to heave again, and again he just gets one. New man Ben Rohrer flicks the last ball to leg for one too. Tye is very good.
WICKET! Patterson c Bancroft b Tye 18 (Sydney Thunder 58-4)
AJ Tye apparently reckons he has as many as eight slower balls. Russell fancies a slice of him, though. Or a few slices. He has a couple of massive heaves but can only get a single. That brings Patterson back on strike and he tries to pull him to New Zealand but only gets a top edge, which Bancroft does brilliantly to cling on too. Went very, very high.
10th over: Sydney Thunder 56-3 (Patterson 17, Russell 6) CHASING 176
Patterson and Russell cannot pick Hogg. Second ball Russell has a horrid heave and gets a bottom edge for two, and later in the over, Patterson is done on the sweep again. And their running is dodgy too, as Patterson sends Dre Russ back off the over’s last ball.
Eddie Cowan’s kid is very cute. Of course he is.
Starting them young #backyardlegends #2yearsold #dasher pic.twitter.com/dCQbmgdkNt
— Ed Cowan (@eddiecowan) January 7, 2016
9th over: Sydney Thunder 52-3 (Patterson 16, Russell 3) CHASING 176
The over ends ion strange manner, as Patterson and Russell go for some strange running but survive, with Russell picking up some overthrows on his first ball. Good to see him at the middle so early.
This is a nice idea:
Random thought – any scope for a state of origin T20 match as a lead up to a BBL season? #BBL05
— Vithushan (@Vitu_E) January 7, 2016
WICKET! Watson b Tye 18 (Thunder 49-3)
BBL legend AJ Tye is into the attack, and Patterson finds cover with a dot then sends it to fine leg for one. Watson’s obviously feeling the pressure to score quickly, and goes for a cut but he’s played on! Oh dear, the head goes back and he looks to the skies. Poor Watto :-(
8th over: Sydney Thunder 48-2 (Patterson 15, Watson 18) CHASING 176
George Bradley Hogg into the attack. First three balls the old man is all over Kurtis Patterson, who is just so hard to get away. Patterson middles a sweep fourth ball and gets two for it, down to the man running round from backward square. Fifth, he beats him again, trying to repeat the sweep. And there’s a single off the last. Second consecutive over with just three from it.
7th over: Sydney Thunder 45-2 (Patterson 12, Watson 18) CHASING 176
We’ve got a bit more David Willey now the powerplay is done. And he finds a very good over, with just three singles from it. Watson belts the last ball - a wide full toss - straight to the man at cover. He’s missed out there, has Shane.
Updated
6th over: Sydney Thunder 42-2 (Patterson 10, Watson 17) CHASING 176
WATTO HAS LANDED. Paris’s first ball is absolutely belted back past him for a low four straight down the ground, then he is just heaved to cow for four more. He just cleared the leg there, lovely stuff. Next ball he finds point, then heaves to deep midwicket for two more. The penultimate ball is cut (bit edgy) very fine and down to third man for four, and the last is a dot. Watto is the key, you’d say.
5th over: Sydney Thunder 28-2 (Patterson 10, Watson 3) CHASING 176
This is class stuff from Behrendorff. Patterson and Watson are limited to a single each by his great, probing line and Klinger’s well-placed cover fielders. But last ball of the over, leftie Patterson just turns it round the corner and gets his first four.
4th over: Sydney Thunder 22-2 (Patterson 5, Watson 2) CHASING 176
Australia’s Joel Paris into the attack. Have to say, didn’t think I’d be typing that this season. He starts well, then is driven on the up by Patterson for three through the covers. Watson’s joined Patterson, by the way. Michael Klinger announces on Channel Ten that the Scorchers will be trying to “blow his front pad off” which is now officially a time honoured tradition of bowling to Watto. He middles a drive, then a cut but gets nothing for either. The last ball is short, and he pulls it in front of square for a hard-run two.
Updated
Wicket! Kallis c Agar b Behrendorff 17
3rd over: Sydney Thunder 17-3 (Patterson 2)
So turns out that Blizzard’s LBW was going over. Mark Waugh in his triple guise of commentator, Sydney Thunder board member and Australia selector is unhappy. Conflict of interest? What conflict of interest? Anyway, Kurtis Patterson is in and he and Kallis trade singles.
But then Kallis throws his hand at the over’s last ball and is caught at point by Agar! Oh dear, that is careless.
Wicket! Blizzard LBW b Behrendorff 7 (Thunder 14-1)
First ball of the next over and Blizzard is gone! He plays around Behrendorff and is trapped leg before. Well bowled, and a big wicket.
2nd over: Sydney Thunder 14-0 (Blizzard 7, Kallis 6) CHASING 176
It’s David Willey from t’other end, and Blizzard rocks onto the front foot and punches him through the covers for a beautiful four. After a push to midwicket for one, Kallis launches into an uppish drive over wide mid-off for another four. The last ball of the over is driven back perfectly, too perfectly actually, as it take out the stumps at the non-strikers. Great shot for none. 10 from the over.
Updated
1st over: Sydney Thunder 4-0 (Blizzard 2, Kallis 2)
Jason Behrendorff is on first up. And it’s a busy first over, with four singles and a big run out chance, as Harris nearly beats Kallis from mid-off. But he survives.
Anyway, the Thunder openers Blizzard and Kallis (sounds like a hipster knitwear line or something) are on their way out. Big ask, 176, I reckon.
You’re no doubt all wondering how that sushi I was eating went down. I brought the stuff shortly before this game started and was pretty pleased with the deal I got. The lovely lady who served me said it was happy hour, which is why the value was quite so dreamy. Anyway, that aroused slight suspicions, and with good reason; they were probably at their best at around midday, but there I was scoffing down California Rolls at half seven. It’s only a lesson if you learn from it. Noted.
End of innings: Perth Scorchers 175-5
Another Ashton (Turner) ambles out and he and Willey scamper three off the last two to end on 175. A great effort having been two down for one run. Agar and Bancroft played beautiful blinders.
Sydney Thunder need 176 to win. I’ll be back shortly to talk you through it.
Wicket! Agar run out (Hartley) 68 (Perth Scorchers 172-5)
Agar scampers three runs from the first two off McKay, before David Willey misses with a big heave. They go for the run and Chris Hartley throws the stumps down and Agar’s gone. That’s a great, beautiful knock.
@willis_macp Agar making a pretty good pitch for T20 World Cup team!
— Messy Jez (@messyjez) January 7, 2016
Updated
Wicket! Bancroft LBW b Russell 72
19th over: Perth Scorchers 169-4 (Agar 65)
Thunder have taken a hiding this over, but Russell strikes back asd Bancroft steps across and tries to scoop. But he’s struck in front and that’s out! He came in when they were in a right pickle, and that’s a classy knock.
Agar 50! (Perth Scorchers 168-3)
What a way to go to 50 that is. Russell’s back, and serves up a wide as Agar tries to ramp him. Next ball, Agar steps across his stumps and just flicks him high into the night sky and it carries all the way for six! Gee that’s a good shot. 50 off 28.
Agar is off his chops here! He gets four then two with outside edges to third man before hoicking another massive six over deep backward square.
18th over: Perth Scorchers 149-3 (Bancroft 72, Agar 46)
Watson’s first ball is cut for a single by Agar first ball, and that makes the partnership 70, which is the Scorchers highest 4th wicket partnership ever. Then Bancroft gives a half-volley the treatment it deserves, gracefully nailing it down the ground for a sweetly-struck six. Stunning. They run a two brilliantly, then there’s another single. Oh boom, Ashton. That’s a Watson full toss that is swung down the ground for a one bounce four. That pushes Watto into a wide, and a single off the last.
It’s fightbacks like these that make the Scorchers quite as good as they are. Bancroft has 22 off his last 9.
17th over: Perth Scorchers 133-3 (Bancroft 63, Agar 40)
My word, Ashton Agar. That is a wonderful shot. McKay’s bowling and the batsmen take a single each, before Agar steps to leg and plays the most perfectly balanced cut shot in front of square that beats the man and goes for four. Ends up a good over for the hosts, just nine from it.
16th over: Perth Scorchers 124-3 (Bancroft 61, Agar 33)
MORE MCDONALD! WHOPPEE! Bancroft smites the second ball of the over for six, straight down the ground. Never got too high, that’s an amazing stroke. They spring two twos and two singles to take 12 from the over, which is a good effort. There are two skied that Russell can’t quite reach running in. Anyway, Warnie’s having fun. Wonder what pizza he’s having tonight.
Adam Scott (Agar) is batting well in the #BBL05 tonight hahah 150+ is a winning score !
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) January 7, 2016
Bancroft 50!
15th over: Perth Scorchers 112-3 (Bancroft 50, Agar 30)
A bit more Watto, who’s had a mighty fine night thus far. After an Agar single, Bancroft brings up his 50 and the Scorchers century with a scampered single into the offside. Agar makes hay later in the over, first swinging a short ball behind square for four, then golf-swinging another for six over midwicket. He finishes a good over for the Scorchers with a late cut for two. Lord, he’s good to watch. Partnership is 48.
14th over: Perth Scorchers 98-3 (Bancroft 48, Agar 19)
The man they call Dre Russ is back. He just does things, doesn’t he? There’s seven from the over, five of them off Agar’s outside edge as he slices four fine, then one to the man at third man. Bancroft - who is playing very well - scampers two off the over’s last ball and he’s one shy of a 50.
This is the greatest cricket joke ever.
"My wife won a cricket bat in one of those lottery prize from a drum things." "Tombola?" "No, Barry ran her out for 75. Good knock though".
— GlennyRodge (@GlennyRodge) January 6, 2016
13th over: Perth Scorchers 91-3 (Bancroft 47, Agar 14)
Kallis is back and - dare I say it - he looks a wee bit popgun tonight. He’s just bowling too short. Agar gets three when those long arms just ease into a pull shot, and only some brilliant work from Kurtis Patterson on the cow fence prevents it being four. Bancroft hits two beautiful fours, though, both behind backward point when Kallis again drops short. The second - off the over’s last ball - should be stopped by Ahmed running round from third man. 15 from the over.
12th over: Perth Scorchers 76-3 (Bancroft 38, Agar 8)
As literally everyone knows, Ashton Agar is a pure dreamboat. Ahmed continues, and mid-off is up, so he just leans into it with those languid long levers and eases it over his head for six. They scamper four other runs and that’s a good over for the Scorchers, 10 from it.
11th over: Perth Scorchers 66-3 (Bancroft 35, Agar 1)
After the excitement of McDonald’s wicket, it’s a quiet end to a wonderfully fun over, with a single to Ashton Agar to long-off, and Bancroft into the legside. Good time.
Wicket! Marsh c Kallis b McDonald 28 (Perth Scorchers 64-3)
McDonald time! Andrew McDonald is bowling. Oh my, I’m excited. Bancroft takes a single first ball, before Marsh hits a beautiful straight drive for six. Perfect shot.
But he’s got him! It’s a slower ball and he’s tried to play the late cut but he’s hit it straight to Kallis, who makes no mistake. Huge wicket.
10th over: Perth Scorchers 57-2 (Marsh 22, Bancroft 33)
Like Watto, Ahmed’s swapped ends. Like Watto, he finds a cracking over, with just five from it. They weren’t trying to get after him, just picking off the singles.
9th over: Perth Scorchers 52-2 (Marsh 20, Bancroft 30)
Wonderful Watto brings himself back into the attack, and he slows things up a little after Thunder conceded 24 from the last two. Just five from the over, with no risks taken but the 50 partnership comes up.
8th over: Perth Scorchers 47-2 (Marsh 19, Bancroft 26)
Welcome, Chris Green. He goes around the wicket with his offies, and Bancroft just nails him over cow for a very clean six. There’s 13 from the over in total, with no dots, and a couple of well-run singles. The last is a full toss that should go the distance, but is just bunted away by Bancroft for one.
7th over: Perth Scorchers 34-2 (Marsh 16, Bancroft 16)
The powerplay is done for, so it’s time for a bit of Fawad Ahmed. There are 11 runs from the over, the highlight of which was a glorious six from Marsh, straight down the ground. Clean as a whistle. With the field spread, they exploit gaps and run three singles and a two.
6th over: Perth Scorchers 23-2 (Marsh 9, Bancroft 12)
Watson brings himself on for the end of the powerplay. First up, he’s a bit straight and Bancroft flicks him through leg for two. Thereafter, however, Watto’s impeccable, finding four dots. Bancroft hits the last to the man at long-on for one. 24 dots in the powerplay, and I’m going to have a bit more sushi.
5th over: Perth Scorchers 20-2 (Marsh 9, Bancroft 9)
The young fella Jacques Kallis - who’s had a dodgy back - is into the attack and Bancroft immediately flicks him into the legside for two then one. After failing to beat square-leg, Shaun Marsh absolutely smotes a four through backward point, when Kallis drops too short. Oh, and he’s done it again. Four more. Glorious. In front of square this one. 11 from the over.
4th over: Perth Scorchers 9-2 (Marsh 1, Bancroft 5)
That’s better from the Scorchers. McKay’s first ball is full and wide, and Bancroft does the decent thing and cover drives for four on the up. Good response from Clint, pinning him on the crease defending. There’s another half-volley fourth ball and Bancroft hits this even better, but cover cuts it off and they just gets a single. Marsh can’t beat the field with the last two, which he middles to mid-off and point respectively.
Apparently the Melbourne derby on Saturday at Etihad is sold out, which is cool. It’s a double header and I’m really looking forward to it.
3rd over: Perth Scorchers 4-2 (Marsh 1, Bancroft 1)
Russell gets a second over, and his first two balls are upwards of 140kph. The second is tucked to midwicket by Marsh, who gets off the mark. I’ll tell you what, this is great bowling (apart from a wide). Bancroft just can’t get away, but he nabs a single off a backfoot drive that Aiden Blizzard fields brilliantly at cover to save three. Thunder are looking damn good.
2nd over: Perth Scorchers 1-2 (Marsh 0, Bancroft 0)
Bit of a frantic start, this. I thought I’d be able to have a sushi roll in that over, but the salmon never got finished. Will have to wait. It’s a rare wicket maiden from McKay, with new man Cam Bancroft seeing out the rest of the over.
Updated
Wicket! Harris c & b McKay (Perth Scorchers 1-2)
It’s Clint McKay from the other end. The first is left, then he drives back to the bowler. But, like Klinger, he’s out to the third ball of the over! He tries to play across the line, gets a leading edge and is caught and bowled!
1st over: Perth Scorchers 1-1 (Marsh 0, Harris 1)
Two slips for Russell to finish the over, Watson and Kallis. Great pair, that. Klinger’s LBW wasn’t hitting the top of middle, as I suggested, it was hitting halfway up. Great bowling. Marcus Harris gets a single in the offside first ball, then Marsh is beaten outside off, then gets a leading edge to point. What an over, Russell has 6 wickets in 10 powerplay overs this comp.
Wicket! Klinger LBW b Russell 0 (Scorchers 0-1)
Andre Russell, or as we’re contractually required to call him, Dre Russ, opens the bowling. After a dot, he beats Klinger’s outside edge with a massive outswinger! And third ball he’s got him! That’s plumb LBW, it’s hit both pads and would have taken out of the top of middle, I reckon.
The Thunder run out to have a bowl first. I think it’s quite interesting that they’ve dropped Gurinder Sandhu, who has really struggled in the last few weeks. Shaun Marsh and Michael Klinger follow, accompanied by Adam Gilchrist, which is a bit weird. He says he wants to open the batting with them. I reckon he’d choose Klinger.
Insight:
Seems to have been a shift back to bowling first. @ThunderBBL 8th of last 10 teams to win the toss and bowl. 6 of those prev. 7 won.. #BBL05
— Brett McKay (@BMcSport) January 7, 2016
Shane Watson, that wondrous man, has stepped in to captain the Thunder in Mr Cricket’s absence. He’s managed to win the toss, and he’s put the Scorchers in, which strikes me as a bit brave, given the visitors’ ability to defend a total. But oh well, we’ll see. Teams are in, and they’re below. Andrew McDonald’s playing!!!
We win the toss and will bowl first. Tonight's lineup brought to you by @HomeWorldAus #ThunderNation #BBL05 pic.twitter.com/pUERvdFCrD
— Sydney Thunder (@ThunderBBL) January 7, 2016
Scorchers XI: Klinger (c), S.Marsh, Harris, Bancroft, Agar, Turner, Willey, Paris, Tye, Behrendorff, Hogg, Carberry (12th)
— Perth Scorchers (@ScorchersBBL) January 7, 2016
Alright alright!
Good evening, folks. I’m back for my second OBO of a fine day, and it’s set to be a bit of a Big Bash beauty. Obviously I would say that, I want you to stay.
But it is a big game, this Thunder v Scorchers one. In my extremely humble opinion, these are the two BBL teams with the most threatening name. Strikers sound a bit - but not very - nasty, Heat sound hot, Sixers sound lame and the Stars like an offshoot of my little pony. The Renegades have proved this week that they are just that.
So, yeah, it’s the battle of the threatening folks. It’s second (Scorchers) v third (Thunder). The latter, missing their captain Mike Hussey, have lost their last two, while Scorchers lost in Adelaide on Tuesday.
Get in touch, please. I’m on the emails at will.macpherson.freelance@guardian.co.uk or the Twitters @willis_macp. Tell me what you’re up to!
Will Macpherson will be here shortly to take you through all of tonight’s live action but in the meantime, here’s the latest on the Chris Gayle saga.
