Strikers’ new hero central to bonkers BBL records as Thunder captain explains horror show
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The numbers and records are all so insane it’s hard to know where to start.
The Adelaide Strikers on Friday obliterated the Sydney Thunder at the Sydney Showground, bowling out the home side for an embarrassing 15 runs.
It was not only the lowest BBL total of all-time, but also the lowest T20 score by any men’s team worldwide.
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The entire Thunder innings lasted 35 balls. There were five ducks. Wicketkeeper Henry Nielsen took five catches.
It was, simply, unbelievable.
“They just nicked everything,” 5-3 hero Henry Thornton told Fox Cricket post-game.
“For us to do that is just incredible.
“Honestly we just couldn’t believe it. We were running around just like ‘what is going on?’.”
Only three Strikers bowlers were used, with Henry Thornton (5-3 off 17 balls), Wes Agar (4-2 off 12 balls) and Matthew Short (1-5 off 6 balls) sharing the spoils. Rashid Khan didn’t bowl. Peter Siddle didn’t bowl.
“I don’t have much to say about it, to be honest,” Thunder captain Jason Sangha said.
“It’s not like we went out to be crazy. Nine of 11 batsmen out caught behind … we nicked off too many times.
“I don’t want to dive into it. But end of the day it’s just not good enough for a professional team to be bowled out for that many runs.
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“I don’t know. It wasn’t like guys were out there trying to throw their wicket away.”
Thornton, who delivered the only maiden of the tournament to date, was particularly eye-catching, bowling with terrific pace and accuracy on a tricky length during his spell. Of the 17 delivered he bowled, 15 of them were dots.
His final figures of 5-3 from 2.5 overs were the best bowling figures by an Australian in BBL history.
Even better, it was his 26th birthday.
“I can‘t ask for a better birthday than that,” he said with a smile.
Thornton was part of the Sydney Sixers set-up in BBL06 nearly six years ago before returning to grade cricket. He got a reprieve call-up halfway through last season and has been outstanding since, taking 22 wickets at an average of 9.6 from his past nine T20 innings.
He said it’d been a “pretty crazy 12 months” for him.
“I was just running around playing club cricket in St Kilda (last season). Got an opportunity. ‘Lynny’ was actually my first wicket and that was in January this year so it‘s been a crazy 12 months,” he said.
“I‘m really, really grateful that the Strikers gave me an opportunity.
“I love trying to express myself and bowl quick. I‘m super supported by ‘Sids’ and the rest of the group.
“I‘m taking it literally one game at a time. I wasn’t here 12 months ago so I’m really enjoying the ride.”
The Thunder appeared well placed at the change of innings after the Strikers, confronted by a fine bowling performance by Sydney, amassed just 9-139.
Then the carnage began. Matthew Gilkes recorded his second duck in two games when he cut Short uppishly to point where Alex Hose took a fine diving catch.
Sangha came in and Thornton had 2-0 when the captain edged to Nielsen.
Short then took a one-handed blinder at first slip to dismiss Riley Roussow.
Danger man Alex Hales was soon gone, edging Wes Agar. It was such that a Daniel Sams’ single was Bronx cheered by the small home crowd.
When Agar bowled Sams and Thornton had Ross, the Thunder had lost 5-9 in the first 17 balls.
That turned into 6-9 off 19 balls when Thornton got Hales caught behind.
Chris Green defended Thornton’s next ball – and the home crowd roared approval. And when Ollie Davies tucked a single through gully, the crowd roared like he’d hit a six.
But the minuscule joy wouldn’t last long.
Then Green was gone, off Agar, caught behind. They were 7-10. Then 8-10.
And when Thornton got rid of Ollie Davies, out caught after a slashing shot attempt, the Thunder were 9-14.
Out came Fazalhaq Farooqi. And back he went.
His team all out for 15.
“We see it, but we do not believe this,” Fox Cricket commentator Dan Ginnane said.
“Whether you’re eight years old or 80, you’ve never seen anything like that and chances are you’ll never see anything like that again.”