Konstas Shines as Thunder Storm Into BBL Playoffs
Sam Konstas shone with a half-century on a challenging pitch, helping Sydney Thunder claim a crucial win over Perth Scorchers and book their place in the BBL finals.
Sent in to bat first, Konstas gave Thunder a strong start. However, Scorchers’ spinners slowed things down until Tom Andrews smashed an unbeaten 37 off just 13 balls at the end, lifting Thunder to 159 runs.
In response, Scorchers had a batting nightmare. Poor running between the wickets led to disastrous run-outs for Cooper Connolly and Sam Fanning. They were bowled out for just 97 runs in the 18th over.
The Scorchersโ fourth straight loss leaves them needing a miracle to make the finals.
Konstas Shines Early, Andrews Finishes Strong
On a pitch that suited spinners, Sam Konstas and David Warner attacked early. They smashed 36 runs in the first three overs, with Warner leading the charge. But after his dismissal in the powerplay, Thunderโs batting struggled.
Konstas stayed composed, mixing smart shots with clever play. He scored his half-century off 40 balls but was dismissed soon after. By the 17th over, Thunder were struggling at 114-7.
Thatโs when Andrews stepped up, hitting powerful shots in the final overs, including a huge six in the last over, which cost veteran Jason Behrendorff 25 runsโhis most expensive over in T20 cricket.
Beardman Debuts as Scorchers Rely on Spin
The Scorchersโ season took another hit with Jhye Richardson ruled out due to injury. This gave 19-year-old Mahli Beardman his BBL debut. Known for his raw pace, Beardman faced a tough introduction against the aggressive Konstas and Warner.
After the powerplay, the pitch slowed, and Scorchers’ spinners took control. Ashton Agar, Matthew Spoors, and Cooper Connolly kept things tight, combining for three wickets. Connolly impressed with 1-16 off four overs, while Agar was economical as always.
Speedster Lance Morris recovered from a rough start to take three wickets, but the Scorchers struggled in the final overs as Thunder piled on runs.
Sangha and Green Shine with the Ball
Leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha returned for just his third game of the season and made an impact on the spin-friendly surface. After a nervy start, he bowled tightly and claimed 1-18 off four overs.
Off-spinner Chris Green backed him up with 3-13, including crucial middle-order wickets. Tom Andrews capped off his brilliant all-round game by dismissing Nick Hobson.
Scorchersโ Batting Woes
Aaron Hardieโs day started with good news as he was named in Australiaโs Champions Trophy squad. However, his struggles in the BBL continued. After calling for a risky single and causing Fanningโs run-out, Hardie hit a couple of sixes but was soon bowled for 22โthe teamโs highest score.
The Scorchersโ collapse continued, with Connolly run out and skipper Ashton Turner falling cheaply. The teamโs poor performance means they are on the brink of missing the finals for only the third time in BBL history.