SYDNEY Thunder won a last-ball thriller over Perth Scorchers last night, but the final boundary off Player of the Match’s Sherfane Rutherford‘s bat was not the biggest talking point in the BBL|14 clash at Perth Stadium.

Unfortunately a sickening clash between Thunder pair Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams in the field during the Scorchers’ 16th over saw both players taken to hospital with serious concussions and “concerns about possible fractures”. Bancroft was able to walk off the field through his own volition with trainers, while Sams was helped off via a med-cab.

Despite the loss of the pair, the Thunder managed to put their emotions aside and still bat through an entire innings, winning a thriller off the final ball. Up to that point, they looked likely to fall short, after just two runs in the 18th over left them at 6-152 and requiring 26 runs for victory.

Fittingly, one of the replacements in debutant Hugh Weibgen smashed a massive six off Jason Behrendorff to give his side a sniff, sitting at 6-163 with an over to play. Andrew Tye came in to face Rutherford who was keen to keep strike. A couple of boundaries and two-run balls later and the Thunder had made up 12 runs with one ball to play.

At 6-175, the Thunder essentially needed a boundary to win, with two runs drawing the contest. Tye opted for leg side which Rutherford read well and smacked it past deep backward square leg. It was not perfect, but it found the space, and more importantly, the boundary for an incredible victory against the odds considering the physical and emotional challenges in the game.

Earlier in the match, Perth Scorchers were sent in to bat and thanks to a terrific knock from Finn Allen (68 off 31) with support from fellow opener Matty Hurst (23 runs from a run-a-ball) and middle-order all-rounder Cooper Connolly (43* off 31), put up a strong total to challenge the Thunder strike force. Chris Green (3-20) was the clear standout for the Thunder with the ball.

Coming off his best BBL knock in 13 years last game, Dave Warner again stepped up to the crease, with the skipper overcoming an early loss of partner Blake Nikitaras (one off two) to form an 89-run partnership with Matthew Gilkes. The first drop batsman whacked 43 off 36 balls, while Warner fell agonisingly short of another half century (49 off 33) with Lance Morris taking the crucial wicket.

Rutherford coming in would provide the later innings hitting required to win, as the West Indies batsman smacked 39 off 19 balls, including the winning runs his fifth boundary of the innings. Inclusion was with him at the crease with an unbeaten nine runs off six balls, while fellow inclusion Ollie Davies came in at second drop with three off eight. Morris took 3-20 to be the pick of the Scorchers’ bowlers.

Perth Scorchers remain at home to take on the Melbourne Renegades on January 7, while Sydney Thunder play the following day up against Hobart Hurricanes at ENGIE Stadium.

SCORECARD

RESULT: Thunder won by 4 wickets from the last ball
POTM: Sherfane Rutherford (Sydney Thunder)
BAT FLIP: Thunder won and elected to bowl

Perth Scorchers
Finn Allen 68 (31), Cooper Connolly 43* (31)
Chris Green 3-20 (4), Tom Andrew 1-26 (4)

Sydney Thunder
David Warner 49 (33), Matthew Gilkes 43 (36), Sherfane Rutherford 39* (19)
Lance Morris 3-22 (4), Cooper Connolly 1-21 (2)

INNINGS BREAKDOWN:

Power Play (1-4):
Scorchers: 0-35
Thunder: 1-35

Halfway (10):
Scorchers: 1-80
Thunder: 1-85

Power Surge:
Scorchers: (16-17): 4-124 to 4-152 (0-28)
Thunder: (13-14): 2-98 to 4-115 (2-17)

Totals:
Scorchers: 4-177
Thunder: 6-179

SQUADS

Perth Scorchers: Matty Hurst (wk), Finn Allen, Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Ashton Turner (c), Nick Hobson, Matthew Spoors, Matthew Kelly, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Lance Morris

Sydney Thunder: Cameron Bancroft, David Warner (c), Sherfane Rutherford, Blake Nikitaras, Sam Billings (wk), Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Daniel Sams, Tom Andrews, Lockie Ferguson, Wes Agar, Oliver Davies, Hugh Weibgen

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