Munro’s 98 in vain as Thunder beat Heat again

BBL 2022-23

Munro’s 98 went in vain © Getty

James Bazley’s 4 for 22 and Colin Munro’s 53-ball 98 both went in vain as Sydney Thunder completed the double over Brisbane Heat with an 11-run victory at the Carrara Oval in Queensland on Thursday (December 29). Having posted 182/6 after being asked to bat first, Thunder kept the Heat to 171/9 to secure their third win in five games. Nathan McAndrew was the star bowler for the Thunder, finishing with 4-31.

While Alex Hales was dismissed for a 11-ball 9, Thunder received a solid foundation through Matthew Gilkes and Rilee Rossouw as they put on a half-century stand to help their side make steady progress. Although their partnership’s strike rate was just over 120, Gilkes and Rossouw ensured the middle-order batters had to platform to go big in the death overs.

Alex Ross played a useful hand of 25 off 12 but at 136/4 at the end of the 17th over, Thunder needed an explosive innings to help them finish well. Daniel Sams provided just that as he struck a 15-ball 36 not out, which included two fours and four sixes. Mitchell Swepson went for 21 in the 18th over while Mark Steketee gave 17 in the 19th as Sams wielded the long handle to good effect. Despite Bazley keeping it tight in the final over and also bagging two wickets, Thunder crossed the 180 barrier to set up the challenge for the Heat.

The chase did not begin on a good note for Heat who lost Max Bryant and Matt Renshaw in the first couple of overs. While Munro was doing the bulk of the scoring, he did not receive much support from the other end as Sam Billings, Jimmy Peirson and Ross Whiteley were all dismissed for single scores.

Nevertheless, Munro was controlling the innings well, with the Heat having reached 111/5 at the end of the 12th over. But an excellent four-over period for the Thunder, with Chris Green and Usman Qadir not conceding a single boundary, left the Heat needing 49 off the last four overs. Bazley struck a six off Sams in the 17th and a four off Qadir in the 18th before being dismissed. It came down to 16 off the final over when McAndrew bagged three wickets to bowl his side to victory.

Brief scores: Sydney Thunder 182/6 in 20 overs (Rilee Rossouw 39, Matthew Gilkes 37; James Bazley 4-22) beat Brisbane Heat 171/9 in 20 overs (Colin Munro 98, James Bazley 29; Nathan McAndrew 4-31) by 11 runs.

© Cricbuzz

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