The Sydney Thunder will be hoping to break their Sydney derby duck on Saturday night when they take on cross town rivals Sydney Sixers at ANZ Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:10pm AEDT.
The Sixers have won all five BBL clashes between the two teams including comfortable eight and six wicket victories last season, a reflection of both teams fortunes in what is the early stages of the fourth year of competition. Inaugural BBL champions Sixers have an overall BBL record of 18 wins and nine losses, the highest winning percentage of any team in the competition.
The Thunder with last place in each of the first three seasons have the worst overall record of just four wins from 24 games.
But the Thunder are coming off probably their best win ever in the competition with an emphatic 56 run win against Brisbane Heat in their opening game of the season thanks to the performance of two 39 year old veterans.
Captain Michael Hussey and star new signing South African legend Jacques Kallis put on a record 160 run opening stand. Hussey scored 96 runs from 60 balls and Kallis making a spectacular BBL debut with an unbeaten 97 from 55 balls which included seven fours and four sixes.
Thunders other two new signings also played a big part with all rounder Andrew McDonald taking 3 for 20 from his two overs and young pace sensation Patrick Cummins a superb 2 for 21 from 3.5 overs troubling all batsmen with his pace.
The new signings and excellent opening performance have brought great hope to the Thunder that this season they are finally going to be competitive.
They face a huge challenge on Saturday facing up to their nemesis the Sixers who have started the new season superbly winning their opening two games by eight and seven wickets respectively.
The Sixers top order have capitalised on the good work of their bowlers who have taken 15 wickets in their opening two games. Veteran Brett Lee leading the way with five wickets, ably supported by a good supporting cast.
Openers Michael Lumb and Nic Maddinson have given the Sixers great starts in their run chases. Maddinson with a superb unbeaten 84 from 54 balls in the opening game against the Renegades following up with a quick fire 29 from 12 balls in Tuesday night’s win over the Hurricanes. Maddinson has a strike rate of 171 so far and boasts a good record against the Thunder.
Left hander Lumb has a strike rate of just under 130 so far this season with 72 total runs from 56 balls faced in his two games. Moises Henriques , Riki Wessels and rising young Tasmanian Jordan Silk have provided great support.
PREDICTION
This is probably Thunder’s best chance to finally have a win over the Sixers. They would have gained great confidence from the performances of their new signings and have the attack to restrict the Sixers top order.
The Sixers will be relying on their strong bowling attack to make a quick breakthrough against Hussey and Kallis and hope their batmen can continue their good form. Think the Thunder will come very close but tipping the Sixers to just hold on in what I predict will be the best Sydney derby yet.
Join The Roar Saturday at 7:10pm for live score updates in our live blog.
Bobbo7
Guest
Scoreboard pressure counts for a lot in T20. The Thunder put a team in with form bats and a bowling line up of a Lee, Bollinger, Starc and Abbott. Predictably the Thunder lost due to having to chase too many against a good bowling attack, that is why it was a ridiculous decision. It was not like the conditions were going to improve.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Good finish by the Thunder, Hughes run out on the last ball. Thunder finish short by 16 runs finishing at 5/164. Aiden Blizzard terrific knock with 80 runs off just 42 balls. Hughes 29 from 23 balls. Poor start cost the Thunder, Starc uprooting Kallis' middle stump the highlight and keeping Hussey to just 17 runs. High scoring game but the bowlers from both teams had their moments. Brett Lee started his first over with five wides but bounced back well. Henriques bowled with guile, Starc was brilliant early. Cummins, Hauritz and Sandhu had good speels for the Thunder. Good win in the end by the Sixers but Thunder will be left wandering what could have been if they could have had a better start to their innings. That's all from me, thanks for following the coverage and don't forget to join theroar for all of tomorrow's action.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
17 runs off that Starc over. 4/150 with one over remaining. Need 31 off the last over.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Blizzard huge SIX off Starc after scoring a four. 71 off 38 balls.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Superb over by Lee conceding just 4 runs. 1/14 off 3 overs by Lee. Thunder 4/133 off 18 overs. Miracle required now.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Nine runs off that Abbott over. Thunder 4/129 off 17 overs. 52 runs required off the last 18 balls. Blizzard 60 from 34 balls, Hughes 15 off 13 balls.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
18 off that over!! Thunder 4/120 off 16 overs. 61 runs required off 24 balls.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Next ball gets it fine to fine leg for another four. Brings up Blizzard's 50!!
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Blizzard down the gound over the sight screen for a huge SIX off Bollinger!! 43 off 26 balls.....then follows up with a top edge over the keeper's head for FOUR!!
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Good over for Thunder there, 10 runs with two fours straight down the ground. Thunder 4/102 off 15 overs. Need 79 off the last 5 overs, huge task.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
A boundary by Hughes that over, first in five overs. Thunder 4/92 off 14 overs. Starc back in the attack, bowled superbly in his first two overs.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Blizzard on 30 from 20 balls , Daniel Hughes 3 from 4 balls
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Another good Henriques over, he has 0/9 off 2 overs. Thunder 4/84 off 13 overs
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Morgan advances down the pitch on abbott's last ball of the over and just manages to lob the ball into mid off's hands,,,OUT!! Huge wicket there Morgan 6 from 11 balls. Thunder in big trouble at 4/79 after 12 overs. 102 needed off just 48 balls
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Good smart over by Henriques, well directed short balls..just four runs off the over , Thunder 3/75 off 11 overs
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
A wicket over by Abbott and conceded just four runs. Thunder 3/71 at the half way mark. Need 110 off the last 10 overs, huge task!!.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
McDonald moves outside off to pull and hits it straight down fine leg's throat. Disappointing shot as McDonald goes for 18 off 20 balls. Thunder now 3/69. Eoin Morgan the new batsman.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Sydney crowd cheering on two Victorians...
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
12 off that over, Thunder needed it. 2/67 off 9 overs
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Actually make that first ball off Doran, the shot of the night as Blizzard hits a huge six over mid on!! MASSIVE HIT!!