Cricket Drama Unfolds: Sixers Snatch Victory from Thunder

CricketPandit

The Sixers needed 15 runs from the final over and then seven off the last two balls, but Dwarshuis’ six on the penultimate delivery clinched the victory. Jordan Silk and Ben Dwarshuis contributed 24 runs in just 11 balls to secure the win for the Sydney Sixers against the Sydney Thunder at the Sydney Showground Stadium on December 21, 2024.

Sydney Sixers 164 for 5 (Silk 36*, Philippe 35, Dwarshuis 20*, Ferguson 2-32) triumphed over Sydney Thunder 163 for 5 (Bancroft 70*, Davies 47, Hosein 2-23, Dwarshuis 2-26) by five wickets.

Ben Dwarshuis led the Sydney Sixers to a dramatic last-ball victory over the Sydney Thunder, scoring 15 runs in the final over to push his team past the target. On the same night that Sam Konstas was dismissed for a duck in his final innings before a likely Boxing Day Test debut, Dwarshuis delivered the winning runs at Engie Stadium.

Chasing a target of 164, the Sixers seemed in trouble needing 47 runs from the last four overs. However, Jordan Silk (36* off 25 balls) helped them score 17 runs in a Nathan McAndrew over, setting the stage for Dwarshuis, who finished with 20 not out from eight balls.

After hitting Lockie Ferguson for six on his first ball, Dwarshuis took control with 15 runs required from Chris Green’s final over. Green’s first three deliveries were tough to hit, but he was penalized with two consecutive wides outside off. With seven runs needed from the last two balls, Dwarshuis launched Green over the long-on boundary for six and then took a quick single off the final ball to seal the win.

Earlier, Cameron Bancroft scored an impressive 70 not out from 52 balls, helping the Thunder reach 163 for 5. Bancroft was a strong contender to return to the Test team after Cameron Green was ruled out for the season, but a challenging summer with the bat had set him back.Cameron Bancroft played a crucial role for the Thunder, scoring an unbeaten 70 off 52 balls, leading the team to a total of 163 for 5. He was seen as a strong candidate to rejoin the Test squad after Cameron Green was sidelined for the season, but a challenging summer with the bat had set him back.

In the match against the Sydney Sixers at Sydney Showground Stadium on December 21, 2024, Bancroft’s 70 runs made him the top scorer for Sydney Thunder. In his previous 15 innings across all formats before Saturday night, he had only managed to surpass 20 runs twice, as Nathan McSweeney and Konstas moved ahead of him in the selection race. However, Bancroft appeared to regain his form against the Sixers, hitting three sixes and five fours. His performance was vital in stabilizing Thunder’s innings, with Oliver Davies contributing 47 runs off 34 balls, including three consecutive sixes off Todd Murphy.

Konstas, making his first appearance since being called up to Australia’s Test squad, attempted to cut a short ball from Akeal Hosein but ended up bottom-edging it onto his stumps. The 19-year-old’s duck came after he had made a remarkable debut just five days earlier, where he set the record for the fastest 50 in Thunder’s history against the Adelaide Strikers.

This was one of the rare occasions he failed to score this summer, having made a significant impact with two centuries at the start of the Sheffield Shield season for New South Wales.

Konstas shared that McSweeney, who was dropped from the Test team, was among the first to congratulate him after receiving a call from chief selector George Bailey.

“I was so thrilled and called my parents right away, and they were very emotional,” Konstas recounted during Fox’s BBL coverage. “Mum was in tears, and I was trying not to cry. Dad was incredibly proud. It’s been an amazing journey with all its ups and downs.

“I’m really excited. I want to face challenges, and I have a few strategies in mind for [India’s] bowlers. I feel like I’m in good form, so I hope I get that chance.”Cameron Bancroft played a crucial role for the Thunder, scoring an unbeaten 70 off 52 balls, leading the team to a total of 163 for 5. He was seen as a strong candidate to rejoin the Test squad after Cameron Green was sidelined for the season, but a challenging summer with the bat had set him back