Short Form Review — Thunder vs. Sixers
A T20 innings is made up of 120 deliveries, a match is 240 fair deliveries in total. So, here’s 240 words* on the “Sydney Smash”…
Sixers’ Innings
TOSS: Won by Thunder. They elect to field. 66% of chasing teams had won at Spotless. Ominous…
POWER PLAY: Sizeable. Especially after Nick Maddinson took a likening to Shane Watson’s “Grade Cricket Mediums.”
SPIN: Important. With the ball skidding on, taking the pace off was crucial. Cue Fawad Ahmed and his “Sydney Thunder All-Time Best Figures” (2–11 from 4 overs) but more importantly: his subtle variations, adept control and wily tactics. It’s ‘spin to win’ this BBL it seems. Actually, it always has been…
INNINGS ACCELERATION: Non-existent. What Ahmed started, Arjun Nair and Mitchell McClenaghan finished off. Sixers lost wickets when they should of been, well… hitting sixes.
SCORE: Sub par. Sixers finished with 9/149 after being 1/55 after 6.
Thunder’s Innings
STARTED: Shakily. Jos Butler’s lean run continued.
WATSON: Likes to hit boundaries. If you think that BBL is a place for retired international batsmen to bludgeon domestic grade bowlers… then based on tonight, you’re right!
MIDDLE ORDER: Struggled. Seems non-ex-or-current-international players need some time to get going. Expected.
THE CHASE: Was ‘over’. Four overs left, Thunder needed 42. Cue chaos or… Comedy of errors.
17th Over: Sean Abbott loses control = 16 runs.
18th Over: Gibson and Watson both dismissed to give Sams a 4-for (and ‘debutant best’ figures.)
19th Over: Nair nurdles and Aidan Blizzard bludgeons to no avail.
20th Over: 16 needed…
RESULT: Thunder win… WHAT?!
Dramatic spectacle. Many skill errors. T20 cricket.
NOTE* — Each innings’ 120 words does not include the innings titles or the rich media inserts. Don’t bother counting them either… Everyone knows that there’s always an extra or two to be bowled.
