Cricket Highlights, 16 Dec: BBL 2022/23 (Match 5) – Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers

Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers (Match 5) – Highlights

Cricket is said to be a game of glorious uncertainty. It could be seen once again in Australia’s Big Bash League. Sydney Thunder set an embarrassing record in the fifth match of the tournament in Sydney on Friday (December 16). Chasing the easy target of 140 runs given by the Adelaide Strikers, the Thunder got all out to score just 15 runs. 

Batting first at Sydney’s Showground Stadium, the Strikers were able to score 139 runs after losing 9 wickets. In response to the aggressive bowling of the strikers’ bowlers, Thunder was stopped at just 15 runs in just 5.5 overs. For the Strikers, 26-year-old pacer Henry Thornton took the maximum number of 5 wickets in 2.5 overs with just 3 runs including 1 maiden.   

Another pacer Wes Agar took 4 wickets conceding just 6 runs in 2 overs. Besides, all-rounder Matthew Short took 1 wicket with 5 runs in 1 over. Along with this, Henry Thornton was selected as the player of the match for making a remarkable record.   

This is the record for the lowest total in T20 cricket history. Earlier, Turkey had the record of being all out for the fewest runs. In 2019, they were bowled out for 21 runs chasing a huge target of 278 runs by the Czech Republic. Turkey played 8.3 overs. Which was the record for the lowest overs played as well. 

Thunder batsmen played only 5.5 overs to score 15 runs. In other words, they lost 10 wickets off just 35 balls. This is also the record for the least number of overs played in T20 cricket. And the previous lowest score in a Big Bash game was 57 runs. In 2015, the Melbourne Renegades set this record of shame.   

Earlier in the match, Strikers captain Peter Siddle won the toss and elected to bat first sending Thunder to the field. The Strikers batsmen were under pressure from the beginning due to the bowling canon of the Thunder bowlers. They could score only 27 runs after losing 2 wickets in 4 overs of Power Play 1. After that, the strikers’ batsmen could not accelerate the run rate at the regular wicket falls.   

As a result, the Strikers collected a fighting capital of 139 runs after losing 9 wickets in the scheduled 20 overs. Chris Lynn scored the highest 36 off 27 balls with 4 fours and 1 six for the team. Colin de Grandhomme scored the second-highest 33 off 24 balls. Besides, Thomas Kelly and Harry Nielsen both played an innings of 13 runs.   

For Thunder, Afghan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi took the maximum number of 3 wickets with 20 runs in 4 overs. Besides, Daniel Sams, Gurinder Sandhu, and Brendan Doggett took 2 wickets each.   

But in pursuit of this simple goal, the collapse came down in the Thunder camp. Five batsmen could not open the account of runs for Thunder. Among them, one is T20 World Cup-winning English opener, Alex Hales. South African batter Rilee Rossouw scored 3 runs. Doggett came down to bat at number 10 and scored the maximum of 4 runs for the team.   

Thunder’s innings ended after 15 runs were scored in 5.5 overs by the bowling canon of the strikers’ bowlers. As a result, the strikers got a huge victory of 124 runs despite picking up a moderate collection of only 139 runs. But Thunder’s 15-run all-out was more surprising than the margin of victory.   

Adelaide Strikers is now at the top of the points table after winning two consecutive matches including this match. On the other hand, Sydney Thunder is in the 4th position in the points table with one win and one loss in two matches.

Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers Scoreboard

Adelaide Strikers – 139/9 (20.0)

Sydney Thunder – 15/10 (5.5)

Result – Adelaide Strikers won by 124 runs

Player of the match – Henry Thornton

Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers Playing XIs