A popular saying in cricket goes ‘catches win matches’ and it has perhaps never held truer than the BBL encounter between Adelaide Strikers and Syndey Thunders on Friday. Matthew Short’s early catch of the tournament contender triggered an early collapse for the Thunder en route to the lowest score in BBL history.
Henry Thornton bowled a short ball outside off that seemed to approach South African international Rilee Rossouw quicker than he expected, earning his bat’s outside edge. However, the ball seemed to be flying over the slip cordon at a rapid speed only for Short at first slip to make an incredible leap and grab a one-handed stunner over his head at full stretch.
Watch the video here:
The replay you've all been waiting for… #BBL12 #StrikeShow pic.twitter.com/IHeDDi54vU
— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) December 16, 2022
Sydney Thunder All Out for 15 vs Adelaide Strikers
The Sydney Showground Stadium on Friday saw Big Bash League history being scripted in scintillating fashion with the second innings of the match between Sydney and Adelaide set to go down as one of the most dramatic half-hours in cricketing history. After the Strikers set a subpar target of 140, the Thunder went through a shambolic collapse to be bowled out for 15 in what Ian Bishop described as worse batting than ‘school cricket.’
Sydney Thunder looked in control after the first innings, restricting Adelaide Strikers to 139/9 after losing the toss and being asked to bowl. In reply it took just 35 balls for all Sydney batters to go back to the dressing room, beating the previous record for the lowest score in the BBL of 57. Sydney Thunder broke the record for the lowest total previously held by Turkey of 21, which they managed against the Czech Republic in 2019.
Thornton, who finished with five wickets, and Wes Agar, four wickets, ran riot in the powerplay with Sydney Thunder limping 9/6 but it was all over in just the next eleven balls. Such was the rate of fall of wickets, that Adelaide’s two-star bowlers Peter Siddle and Rashid Khan did not even need to bowl.
