MS vs ST

Big Bash League · Match 14

Recent overs

Ov 20
114020
8 runs
Ov 19
100012
4 runs
Ov 18
1W4W1W
6 runs
Ov 17
120443
14 runs

Commentary

That brings us to the end of our coverage for this encounter. Plenty of action lined up for tomorrow. You can switch tabs and follow the South African Pakistan game which is currently underway but from here, this is myself (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) signing off also on behalf of my fellow commentator and good mate Pradeep. 
10:40 PM local time (05:10 PM IST): Sydney Thunder won by 18 runs

Sam Billings 72(39) | Wes Agar 3/25(4)
Ben Duckett 67(49) | Beau Webster 3/42(4)

A thoroughly professional bowling performance from the Sydney Thunder as they win by 18 runs to register their third victory of the tournament. The match looked even stevens till the 17th over but Wes Agar totally changed the complexion of the game, bathing three wickets and there was literally no way back for the Melbourne Stars. It was Sam Harper and Ben Duckett who came out to open the innings. 

After a streaky boundary, Harper was dismissed by Lockie Ferguson in the first over but the duo of Marcus Stoinis and Duckett steadied the ship with a stand of 59 runs. Both Duckett and Stoinis looked in complete command of proceedings and struck some delightful strokes and all those came at a fair clip. Stoinis was eventually dismissed by Chris Green for 22 but Duckett was still out there in the middle and looked absolutely set for a big knock. 

Glenn Maxwell struck a boundary early on but only managed to score 6 off 4 deliveries before top-edging an attempted slog sweep straight down the throat of the backward square leg fielder. The. The pair of Hilton Cartwright and Duckett steadied the ship for a bit and it looked the duo would see them close to the finish line. However, the game turned once Cartwright was dismissed. Duckett lost a bit of momentum and departed just before the power surge was taken which made a massive difference. 

Beau Webster struck three boundaries off the first over of the power surge but in the second over the whole complexion of the game changed with Wes Agar bagging three wickets in the 18th over and it was all done and dusted from there on. Agar completed the formalities with a good final over as the Thunder went onto win by 18 runs. Agar was the pick of the bowlers while five other bowlers chipped in with a wicket each.
Sam Billings is the Player of the Match! Here's what he has to say: There's still probably areas we need to focus, it's a good win. Ben Duckett was playing brilliantly, couple of key wickets, we got right back into the game, really pleasing, we knew we're a better team tonight. I'm very competitive, Davy asked a couple of times to show more energy in the field, that's what we did. The intensity has to be shown in tight games, nothing too serious, just good to get a win. Giving myself a chance, I'd like to play few balls, get used to the conditions. Try to stay still, I'm working on a lot, just standing nice and still, trusting my instincts. Needed that, we had lost a couple of wickets and glad it came off. Pretty dopey moment for me, I didn't throw it away, thankfully. Sometimes you need the luck to go your way. Such a tight tournament, everyone seems to be beating everyone. We have a tough game coming up against Renegades at home. We have a great home support.
20Ov164/8Score
1140208 runs
Brody Couch*8 (9)
Joel Paris5 (4)
Wes Agar3/25
19.6 Wes Agar to Brody Couch, FIFTH STRAIGHT LOSS FOR MELBOURNE STARS OF THE SEASON! That's a convincing win for the Sydney Thunder who are back to winning ways here. Clever change of pace, dips a full delivery on fifth stump. Couch too early with bat swing and misses.
19.5 Wes Agar to Brody Couch, length delivery on the leg-stump, Couch slams it down to long-on. Green stops it on the bounce and they hare back for the brace.
19.4 Wes Agar to Brody Couch, pace off, short into the batter. Couch too early into the pull and misses, cops the blow on to the body.
19.3 Wes Agar to Brody Couch, FOUR! Full on the leg-stump, Paris drilled it down the ground towards long-on. Desperate dive from Green to his right, but can't stop it and it's a boundary.
19.2 Wes Agar to Joel Paris, full toss, knee height. Couch mistimes the swipe to deep square-leg for another single. Just formality remains now.
19.1 Wes Agar to Brody Couch, tries the yorker, follows the batter as Couch backs away. Comes out as low full toss, driven it to long-on for one.
That's the end of the penultimate over and it's more of a formality left from here on with 27 runs needed off the final over. 
19Ov156/8Score
1000124 runs
Joel Paris*4 (3)
Brody Couch1 (4)
Lockie Ferguson1/27
18.6 Lockie Ferguson to Joel Paris, short into the batter, Paris pulled firmly to deep mid-wicket and they scamper through for a couple.
18.5 Lockie Ferguson to Brody Couch, low full toss on the stumps, Couch pushes it to extra-cover and takes the single.
18.4 Lockie Ferguson to Brody Couch, back of a length on fifth stump, angled it across. Couch has a big swing and a miss.
18.3 Lockie Ferguson to Brody Couch, back of a length on fourth stump, Couch waits to cut it late but gets beaten.
18.2 Lockie Ferguson to Brody Couch, searing yorker, just outside the off-stump. Couch looks to squeeze it away but misses.
18.1 Lockie Ferguson to Joel Paris, short into the batter, slower one. Paris swipes it to deep backward square-leg for a single.
Brody Couch, RHB comes out to the crease. 
The over has more or less sealed the game for the Sydney Thunder. Three wickets coming in that over of Wes Agar and with just 2 more wickets left, the Melbourne Stars are fading into oblivion.