CANBERRA: Daniel Sams played a swashbuckling 42-run cameo and lifted Sydney Thunder to edge past Adelaide Strikers in the third match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2024 here at the Manuka Oval on Tuesday.
Coming out to bat at number eight, with the Thunder needing 55 runs from just 26 balls, Sams turned the tide in his side’s favour with belligerent hitting.
The right-handed batter smashed four fours and three sixes on his way to an unbeaten 18-ball 42 and muscled the Thunder to a narrow two-wicket victory with two balls to spare.
Besides Daniel Sams, young opener Sam Konstas made significant contribution in the run-chase as he top-scored with a quickfire 56 from just 27 balls, studded with 10 boundaries including two sixes.
For the Strikers, Henry Thornton and Jamie Overton bagged two wickets each, while Cameron Boyce, Matthew Short, Lloyd Pope and Fabian Allen chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Put into bat first, the Strikers registered a formidable total of 182/8 on the board, thanks to Jake Weatherald and James Bazley’s brisk knocks.
The opening batter scored a brisk 40 off just 19 deliveries, while Bazley scored 31 runs from a mere 12 balls.
Overton, however, remained the top-scorer for the Strikers, courtesy of his anchoring knock in the middle. He made 45 from 35 deliveries, hitting one four and four sixes in the process.
New Zealand international Lockie Ferguson and Chris Green co-led Thunder’s bowling charge with three wickets each, while Tanveer Sangha contributed with two scalps.
The two-wicket victory helped Thunder to secure third position in the BBL 2024 standings, closely following city-rivals Sixers and Perth Scorchers, respectively.