Melbourne/Jan 7 – Sydney Thunder registered a clinical 39-run win over the Hobart Hurricanes at the Optus Stadium to surge to the top of the Big Bash league table on Thursday.
The Thunder got off to a lightning start to their innings, plundering 48 from the four-over powerplay. Openers Khawaja and Alex Hales shared a quick-fire 59-run opening stand before spinner Darcy Short dragged them. Short grabbed 3/26 off four overs.
Nepalese leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane’s 1-23 off four overs was influential as well. He was economical with 11 dots and got hit for two fours. He also struck one wicket of Thunder’s Skipper Ferguson for 1 run, in the middle of the spell.
The Thunder battled to 117/5 after 16 overs before unbeaten 44 off 33 balls from Alex Ross and Ben Cutting (31* off 14 balls) added some late fireworks to reach 167-5 in 20 overs.
In reply, Hurricanes were on track for victory after cruising to 89/2 after 11 overs, before losing 6 wickets for 26 runs to fall in a heap. The Hurricanes eventually restricted to 128/8 from their 20 overs.
The result saw the Thunder leapfrog cross-town rivals the Sydney Sixers into the top spot of the Big Bash table.
