Match Center

Right then. They say lightning does not strike the same place twice. But Thunder have struck Perth twice this season. Does not really affect the points table as Perth continue to be at the top, while Sydney Thunder stay in third. What to look out for on Friday? A holiday, Yes, a forced break is what we shall see on 7th January, 2022, with the Adelaide Strikers-Melbourne Stars game getting postponed due to mental health issues in the Stars' camp. BBL shall now resume on Saturday, 8th January, 2022, with a double header in Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Thunder, followed by the Brisbane Heat-Hobart Hurricanes clash. The first ball of the day will be bowled at 12:35 pm IST (0705 GMT) but as you are aware, the buildup will begin well in advance. Please do tune in early. Until then, you can catch all the action from the ongoing second South Africa-India Test and of course, the fourth Ashes Test. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

GURINDER SANDHU HAS BEEN NAMED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Sandhu says that he did not know that he took a hattrick in this game and adds that had he known before, he would have bowled a different ball. But is happy to take multiple hattricks in the same year. Is happier to be able to play consistently now, overcoming his injuries. Lauds the team for winning the game as well. On being the only Thunder player to get a hattrick in the BBL, Gurinder is happy to be in the record books. On beating the Scorchers twice this season, GS praises the whole team as he notes that in every game, someone or the other has put his hand up.

Not knowing to give up till the end, Perth dragged Sydney almost till the end. However, in the 14th over, the highly accurate Mills was targetted by his own countryman and the game swung again. As if there was no shortage of surprises, Peth had a final chance with Davies top-edging a shot off Morris in the 16th over - only to be put down by the keeper, Cameron Bancroft. Had that catch been taken, Thunder would have needed 18 from 13 balls. Who knows, what might have happened. But a great outing for all the Scorchers' bowlers, except in the last couple of overs. Tymal Mills, who will leave the squad to represent England in West Indies, will be missed but this Perth attack actually is terrific.

In reply, the Sydney replied with thunder. It was Matthew Gilkes who stole the show, when the focus was on Alex Hales. He just took the Powerplay by storm and when the score read 51/1 at Gilkes' wicket, 84 needed from 69 balls seemed to be an easy task. But no. It is not for no reason that the Scorchers are at the top of the points table, are they? The table toppers came back post the Powerplay and stifled the scoring. They were unable to pick wickets but Sydney were struggling. Eventually, they managed to pick both, Hales and Sangha in quick succession and the game turned.

Low-scoring thrillers are so exciting. After electing to bat, Perth started in an okay fashion but the rain spoiled their plans. When play resumed after the break, there was some harakiri within their camp and they suddenly found themselves losing wickets. Add to it, Gurinder Sandhu's hattrick pegged them even further before Ashton Agar's cameo gave some respectability to the total.

It is 2-0 for Sydney Thunder! A few days ago, they became the first team to beat Perth Scorchers this season and now, have become the first team to beat the Scorchers TWICE in this season! What a cat-and-mouse game. Till that 14th over, the game was swinging like a pendulum but once Billings got stuck into Mills, the destination of the game was confirmed.

FOUR! There it is! Sam Billings hits the winning runs and this has been a good little innings from him! Tye hurls in another full toss, around middle. Billings tonks it over the mid-wicket region and the ball races away to the fence. Sydney Thunder WIN THE MATCH BY 6 WICKETS! (DLS method).

NO BALL! A full toss, above waist high, around leg. Daniel Sams heaves it to the leg side and gets a single. Free Hit to follow!

Daniel Sams comes to the crease now.

OUT! RUN OUT! Superb stuff from Tye. Is the game still alive? A yorker, around middle, Billings misses his flick and is hit on the pads. The ball rolls to the off side and the batters go for the quick single. It was on and Tye tried his best to stop it. Got across to the ball and flicked it onto the striker's end. It looked okay at first but at the very end, Davies' bat got stuck outside the crease. The run out appeal was referred upstairs and yes, Davies was found short.

Is that a run out? Seems like Davies' bat was stuck outside the crease. Referred upstairs and yes, GONE!

Wide! Fuller and way outside off. Sam Billings does not get any bat on it and the umpire signals it as a wide.

Banged into the deck, around middle. Sam Billings looks to pull but he misses.

FOUR! Sloppy from the fielder in the deep and Billings bags a boundary! Length ball, on middle. Sam Billings heaves it towards deep mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep moves across to his left, slips and fails to stop the ball. A boundary in the end for Billings.

Back of a length, outside off. Oliver Davies cuts it to deep cover for a single.

SIX! This could be it for Sydney Thunder! This was a length ball, around middle. Oliver Davies stays back and launches it high into the night sky towards long on. Aaron Hardie at long on hops and tries to catch the ball but he fails and the ball goes over the fence for a maximum!

Andrew Tye is brought back into the attack.