FINAL over heroics from Gurinder Sandhu have seen the Sydney Thunder strike down the Melbourne Stars in last night’s Big Bash League (BBL) season 12 opener. The home side weathered a batting collapse at Manuka Oval to surpass the meagre 122-run target on the last ball of the night, doing so with one wicket in hand.

In what was just the third one-wicket victory in BBL history, the Thunder were left with eight runs to win off the final over, a task made even more improbable as Stars giant Beau Webster snared consecutive wickets with the first two balls. Enter Sandhu, who bashed a six over deep midwicket and took it down to the last delivery.

With scores tied, Stars wicketkeeper Joe Clarke took a glove off in anticipation of an inevitable Thunder run, but counted his chickens before the eggs hatched and let the winning sundries slip past his grasp in what was a bizarre end to a thrilling, low-scoring contest.

Earlier, Sydney won the toss and elected to bowl. It took little time for Clarke to find the rope, though boundaries were harder to come by as the Stars’ batting innings wore on. The English opener was dismissed by Sandhu for a run-a-ball 11 in the third over, looping a pull shot for Jason Sangha to run back and catch, though Melbourne’s powerplay extended to a solid 1-31.

Tom Rogers was the next to go and things began to run downhill for the Stars once Joe Burns pulled up lame with a hamstring injury. The Queenslander, who copped a Covid infection coming into the game, toughed it out for four overs, but eventually retired hurt to make way for Marcus Stoinis, who also fell ill in the lead-up.

His stint at the crease was even shorter, skying a slog sweep straight up off Chris Green as consistent wickets became a thorn in the Stars’ side. The power surge was taken in the 12th over and Afghan quick Fazalhaq Farooqi reentered the attack in response, killing any momentum Melbourne had with the quick dismissals of set batters Nick Larkin (25 off 26) and Hilton Cartwright (12 off 13).

A late flourish from Nathan Coulter-Nile (15 off 11) was halted by Daniel Sams, who became the third Thunder bowler (behind Farooqi and Sandhu) to take two poles as the Stars crawled to 8-122 of their 20 overs. With 120 balls in the bank, pace-off deliveries into the gripping Manuka Oval wicket seemed the way to go.

Having drafted for greater impact through the bowling powerplay, Melbourne would have been thrilled to see star quick Trent Boult strike with two wickets in the first over of Sydney’s innings. Taking the new rock, he squeezed Matthew Gilkes down the leg side for sub fielder Brody Crouch to juggle a screamer on the deck, before having South African Rilee Rossouw hole out to mid-on first ball.

Unfortunately, opening partner Luke Wood could not quite back up Boult at the other end, conceding key boundaries and failing to break through for a wicket. It was Nathan Coulter-Nile who did the job instead, crashing Alex Hales‘ pegs with a full toss in the final over of the powerplay, en route to match best figures of 3-19.

Stand-in Stars skipper Adam Zampa also nabbed a couple of key wickets, beating opposite number Jason Sangha for pace and doing the same to sweepologist Alex Ross to claim his 100th BBL dismissal. Both batters were set, and top-scored for the Thunder with 24 (25) and 28 (27) respectively.

There were many match-defining moments in the death overs. Sandhu edged Zampa past Coulter-Nile at slip for four, Zampa later missed a run out, and Sandhu began to reach the rope. Not even another Crouch belter could stop the Thunder though, as Sandhu’s six and Clarke’s butter fingers made for the definitive acts.

Tonight’s match sees the Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Sixers lock horns at Adelaide Oval, with the Stars next in action at home against the Hobart Hurricanes on Friday, while a meeting with the other half of Melbourne awaits the Thunder on Sunday.

SCORECARD

RESULT: Sydney Thunder 9-123 def. Melbourne Stars 8-122 by 1 wicket
MOTM: Gurinder Sandhu (Sydney Thunder)

KEY PLAYERS

Melbourne Stars:
Nick Larkin 25 (26), Joe Burns 18 (16), Nathan Coulter-Nile 15 (11)
Nathan Coulter-Nile 3-19, Beau Webster 2-19, Trent Boult 2-21, Adam Zampa 2-27

Sydney Thunder:
Fazalhaq Farooqi 2-20, Daniel Sams 2-21, Gurinder Sandhu 2-23
Alex Ross 28 (27), Jason Sangha 24 (25), Gurinder Sandhu 20* (16)

INNINGS BREAKDOWN

Powerplay (1-4):

Melbourne Stars – 1-31
Sydney Thunder – 2-28

Halfway (10):

Melbourne Stars – 3-64
Sydney Thunder – 5-58

Power Surge:

Melbourne Stars – 2-5 (overs 13-14)
Sydney Thunder – 0-12 (overs 18-19)

Totals:

Melbourne Stars – 8-122
Sydney Thunder – 9-123