END OF OVER:20 | 8 Runs | ST: 173/8 | RR: 8.65
- Lockie Ferguson7 (9b)
- Dan Christian23 (15b)
- Michael Neser4-0-25-2
- Xavier Bartlett4-0-39-1
The Sydney Thunder lost Davies in the third over of the innings after attempting an ineffective shot, the ramp scoop, and only managing to edge it back to the wicketkeeper. Gilkes hit a couple of boundaries when he stepped out to bat. Gilkes got 20 runs off 10 balls before losing his wicket after edging a length ball off Johnson behind the stumps. Despite having strong starts to the innings, Billings, Rutherford, and Weibgen were unable to make a significant impact. Warner struck a calm fifty and was removed the very next ball for a cheeky shot behind the wickets. Later down the order, the assistant coach and today's active cricketer, Dan Christian, blasted several powerful hits and played a cameo of 23 runs off 15 balls. Neser and Kuhnemann each took two wickets, while Johnson took three. After a brief interval, join us for the second inning!
Dan Christian at the beginning of the play "(Return from retirement) Said yes, straight away. I trained pretty hard during the off-season in the hope that an opportunity might arise. And yeah, obviously we're still doing the coaching job here at the Thunder and really enjoying that. Crazily enough. We've had seven injuries or unavailabilities at different stages throughout the season. So, yeah. Finally got my chance. (Playing tonight) Hopefully, it'll be like riding a bike but we'll wait and see whether it's an old rusty bike or a fresh one ready to go. So now I'm feeling good. I've been doing okay. Club cricket and training in the nets with the boys here, it should be all right (tonight). I'm just filling in at the moment while we've got a few injuries. And yeah, hopefully, we can see Cam Bancroft and Daniel Sams back soon. It was obviously pretty horrific what happened the other night but they're on the mend and yeah hopefully we can see them soon. (Balancing coaching-playing role) Yeah, I probably will be a bit of fuel as I say. I suppose it makes me a little bit more accountable when I'm batting. I can't go out to play super shots because I've been telling the boys to be sensible and hit the gaps hard and take minimum sort of risk. So they will see how it goes. I'm still really enjoying the coaching and still heavily involved in the planning and the chats about the game. But yeah, once the cost goes up once the boys get out there, then I'm fully into playing those. (Debutant Weibgen and Winning Culture) Yeah, I'm thrilled for him (Weibgen). I was lucky enough to work with him last year, with the Australian under-19. He was the captain of that team that won the World Cup and I went to the Ashes with them. The under-19 Ashes went over to England with them and he did really well scoring runs and led that scene beautifully, very mature head on his shoulders, and a fantastic cricketer. We're all thrilled to add him to the squad first and then yeah, it was a pretty unique and extraordinary situation where he got that opportunity the other night (Against the Scorchers) and went out and he chased Behrendorff for a six in the second last over, and I'm really happy for him. And as for the culture that's the winning culture, the first game was a great example of it, you seen all teams and competitions around the world when teams start to win those really close ones. Like we did in that first game where Dan Sams clubbed that 34, or so the second last over to get us home. When you start winning those close ones, it really does create a great belief within the team, and yeah the boys are going really really well."
Brisbane Heat require 174 runs to win the match
anush: "Christian might be a lucky charm for thunder, with his tournament winning prowess"
Slow over-rate, 3 fielders allowed outside the circle, here's Neser
Ryan: "Dan Christian, like he never left! Amazing hitting!"
END OF OVER:19 | 16 Runs | ST: 165/8 | RR: 8.68
- Lockie Ferguson3 (7b)
- Dan Christian20 (11b)
- Xavier Bartlett4-0-39-1
- Mitchell Swepson4-0-34-0
END OF OVER:18 | 5 Runs | ST: 149/8 | RR: 8.27
- Dan Christian6 (7b)
- Lockie Ferguson2 (5b)
- Mitchell Swepson4-0-34-0
- Spencer Johnson4-0-39-3
END OF OVER:17 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | ST: 144/8 | RR: 8.47
- Lockie Ferguson0 (2b)
- Dan Christian3 (4b)
- Spencer Johnson4-0-39-3
- Xavier Bartlett3-0-23-1
TD Andrews b Johnson 13 (5m 6b 1x4 1x6) SR: 216.66