Thunder vs Scorchers, 30th Match at Sydney, BBL 2023, Jan 08 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary

Dan : "No one can accuse Perth of leaking too early. Clearly not playing at their best but still getting the job done. Next games against Sixers and Heat will be huge, especially if they can find that ruthless edge again " Yeah, away and then at home against Heat. Should be cracking, like with tomorrow's game, where Alex Carey returns for Adelaide Strikers' home game against Hobart Hurricanes. Catch you then.

Ashton Agar, POTM I realised second ball that it was a spinner's pitch. I bowled that ball to Bancroft, it looked like it'll turn to be honest, but then you bowl a fast side-spinner and that gives you a prediction. As soon as that happens, you know it's the hardest ball to hit and you look to stick to that. (On his Surge over) Bowling left-arm around, spinning away from the bat, was the toughest to hit. Didn't have to do too much, just hit the right length and knew I couldn't get step-hit over the head. Quicks adjusted well at the back end too. They kill you the run outs, don't they? They're so good to get. It was a beautiful thing. We lost the last game, Strikers are a good outfit at home. We've felt the same the whole time. That's our strength. We plan well, try to play our best game and move on quickly and go again next game. We don't get too caught up with the wins and losses, just try to stack up good days.

10:38pm Crawley and Inglis run a clinic to chase down a small target on a tricky pitch. They knew the target in hand and that as long as they don't have a big dip, like Thunder did, they should be able to get through. Wasn't easy as the pitch was slow, offering sharp turn to spinners and grip for the quicks bowling cutters. They rotated strike well, built a couple of forty-odd-run stands and had Inglis clear things off. Green came on early but didn't bowl all of his overs. Davies was brought on very late too. Sangha used the pitch brilliantly but couldn't make breakthroughs. Maybe Thunder missed another spinner, who could've cashed in on the excellence of Sangha and McAndrew but it wasn't to be.

Green to close the game. Ring field, loads of em a few metres inside the ring. All Evans needs is clear the infield

Sujatha : "Ashton Agar is my MOM. He just squeezed the momentum out of the thunder innings when they were all set at 86/1 "

Sujatha : "Inglis was waiting like an ambushing komodo dragon"

McAndrew and Sams likely to finish, if this goes to the final over that is. The former to go first

Run a ball needed. Final Surge ball. Is it a free hit for Inglis?

Sowmya : "17.2 and 17.3 have pretty much sealed the deal for the PS"

DaWolf from a little while ago, "A lot of teams bat low targets as if they are low. Aiming to win in the 19th over. But then if anything goes wrong, suddenly that low run rate jumps. Perth should win this, but they'd be better placed at 120/4 rather than 106/2."

Sinclair: "have an odd feeling that Perth will choke"

Scorchers take the Surge. They have the target in sight, just 31 needed off 24. McAndrew will bowl from over the wicket