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Sydney Thunder have the Big Bash League wobbles after slumping to their third successive loss, a 30-run defeat to Perth Scorchers at Spotless Stadium on Thursday night.
Set 176 to win the Mike Hussey-less Thunder’s innings spluttered at the start before Andrew Russell bludgeoned 42 off 20 balls, the highlight of which was a 116m six off Jason Behrendorff over midwicket in the 13th over.
However when the West Indian allrounder skied the tall left-armer to Joel Paris at point later in the over, any chance the Thunder had before 18,942 fans was all but gone with the home side 5-97 in the 14th over.
After emerging as one of the teams to beat over the early stages of the BBL on the back of three straight wins, the long-time tournament easybeats have fallen into old habits.
The win moves the Scorchers (4-2) to the top of the BBL ladder, ahead of Adelaide Strikers on net run rate.
Despite losing two early wickets the Thunder (2-42) were ahead of the Scorchers’ score of 2-23 after the six powerplay overs but from there things started to go downhill.
Shane Watson started well but couldn’t go on with it and was bowled by Andrew Tye for 18 off 17 to have the Thunder 3-49 in the ninth over.
Kurtis Patterson struggled to find the middle of the bat before he was out skying Andrew Tye to ‘keeper Cameron Bancroft for 18 off 24 and the home side were 4-58 in the 11th over.
That left Russell as the Thunder’s remaining hope. But he couldn’t pull off the win.
Behrendorff, 3-26 off four overs, was the pick of the Scorchers’ bowlers along with Tye, who claimed 3-22 off his four overs.
Earlier, a steady 72 runs off 53 balls from Bancroft and some clean hitting from Ashton Agar (68 off 34) helped the Scorchers post 5-175 after they were 2-1 in the second over. Shaun Marsh was third top score with 28 off 22 balls.
Patterson replaced Hussey in the Thunder line-up, while Andrew McDonald took the place of the struggling Gurinder Sandhu, who has 1-162 in the tournament so far.
Russell was the best of the Thunder’s bowlers with 2-31 off his four overs.
Hussey is only considered a 50-50 proposition for Thunder’s next game against Melbourne Renegades at Spotless Stadium on Monday, before their final game of the season against Sydney Sixers on Saturday week.
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