The Strikers will hardly be able to believe that they have lost this game after coming in as the top side. But the Sydney Thunder were superb and will know that if they play this way in the final they have a great chance of winning.
There is no doubt who the player of the match is. Khawaja made a mockery of the Striker’s total of 159. He finished unbeaten on 104 off just 59 deliveries, having taken the Strikers bowlers apart from the start.
He played in a controlled manner and rarely looked like getting out, though he was put down early on, Lehmann not managing to take what was a very difficult chance at short cover.
But despite the fact Khawaja will enjoy all the limelight, the Sydney Thunder bowlers deserve a lot of credit for the manner they restricted a formidable Strikers lineup.
They dismissed the two openers early and also managed to restrict Head and Hodge to small contributions. Despite being expensive at the end McKay claimed three wickets, with Watson and Green also playing crucial roles with the ball in hand.
In truth, it could have been much worse for the Strikers had it not been for Ross, who compiled a classy 47 which also enable Rashid and Neser to go after the bowlers towards the end.
Rashid and Laughlin gave the Strikers some hope with the ball, but it was ultimately the case that the Thunder would stroll to victory as long as Khawaja was at the crease and they simply couldn’t dismiss him.
So once again the semifinal comes to a close with the top team failing to reach the final while the Thunder’s hopes are well and truly alive.
Points are no longer relevant, the Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder both just want to reach the Big Bash League final for the first time. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:30pm (AEDT).
The fifth edition of the Big Bash has been closely contested for the most part, but the Strikers have been able to dominate the competition.
The men in blue have only lost the one game, but somewhat worryingly for them, that one game was against the Thunder.
The Thunder’s seven-wicket win showcased their impressive depth in bowling, as captain Mike Hussey called up seven separate bowlers, five of them taking wickets, as the Strikers limped to 9/117.
While Hussey will enjoy the luxury of having so many options with the ball, he will still be relying largely on his two main pacers. Andre Russel and Clint McKay are equal second on the leading wicket-takers chart, with 14 apiece, and were the only two Thunder bowlers to take multiple wickets when the sides last met.
But the Strikers attack is far from toothless, with the tournament’s leading wicket-taker Adil Rashid, whose 15 wickets have largely come in the middle overs. Rashid’s variations fooled some of the most accomplished batsmen in the competition, though the Thunder will feel confident against him, having taken 39 from his four overs, without the loss of a wicket, when the teams last met.
The Strikers can also rely on Ben Laughlin, the Big Bash’s all-time leading wicket-taker, to close out the innings with the ball, but his impact will largely be influenced by who is in when the final overs come around.
Russell’s ridiculous strike rate of 192.3 with the bat makes him a formidable threat at the end, but throughout the 20 overs no Thunder batsman has been as threatening as Hussey. Mr Cricket’s career Twenty20 average of 38.71 is among the best in the world, but in this season’s Big Bash his average is an even more exceptional 55.4.
Hussey sits second in the leading run-scorers chart, with Strikers youngster Travis Head only one run behind him in third. However, while Hussey’s role is to hold the innings together, Head’s role is simply to take apart opposition attacks.
Getting Head out early won’t ensure success for the Thunder, but it will substantially reduce the chances of carnage.
Prediction
The previous meeting between the teams is certainly a positive for the Thunder, but Adelaide are strong favourites for this semi-final.
dan ced
Guest
Rofl the amount of people that think Rod Marsh is their dad. Next they will be saying that Graeme Smith used his influence to get his son Steve Smith instated as AUS cricket captain, so he could drag us down from the inside. Ignorance level: High.
dan ced
Guest
Yeah, he was only in the ODI squad as cover for Warner's cover (Shaun Marsh).. so as soon as Warner was back, Khawaja was available for the Thunder. It makes sense. I hate him now though, being a Strikers fan who was at the game. I hate him for being good, as opposed to my hate for Shaun Marsh being down to flakiness and inconsistency.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
That's why I get annoyed when I see so many comments saying the selectors are making a mistake by not picking Khawaja in all three formats for Australia. The limited overs sides are currently made up of: Finch, Warner, Smith, S.Marsh, Bailey, Lynn, Head and that is before the allrounders Maxwell, Faulkner, M.Marsh, and Watson are included. Who should be left out? I think Khawaja would be a great ODI and T20 opener much like Mark Waugh was, but right now he's fourth in the pecking order behind Finch, Warner and Shaun Marsh. Khawaja got another chance in the test side this summer and seized it. For the ODI and T20 sides his job is to score runs, stay in form and at the forefront of the selectors' discussions and wait for a chance. Is he good enough to play all three formats - yes, but that doesn't mean there's a spot for him.
Jarijari
Guest
Genius selectors left out Ussie for the Marx (Marsh) brothers. Thunder double.
Kreese
Guest
True. Good point. I had in my mind's eye close to a sell out crowd at the MCG giving Mike Hussey a standing ovation as he walks out to bat for the last time. All class that man.
Anwar
Guest
Khawaja averaging 275 this season, nothing more to be said, how is he not in the Aus T20 side
The Boss
Guest
Why the MCG? I think a WACA match would be brilliant... It is where he played for so many domestic years, as well as a few years at the Scorchers more recently
Kreese
Guest
Congrats Sydney Thunder. I'm hoping Stars beat Scorchers so Hussey gets a farewell at the MCG. I realise it's still early days for BBL, but the semi-finals should be best of three games.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Geoff Marsh isn't a selector. It's Rod Marsh - no relation.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
On the other hand Geoff Marsh is also a national selector and both of his sons are either in or buzzing about the team. Mitch batted at 3 the other night. The position Ussie should have occupied.
JoM
Roar Rookie
He is one selector out of 5, I doubt he gets the whole say and he was also associated with the Thunder a fair while before he became a selector. Who are you going to leave out to put Khawaja in though
Klaus Nannestad
Roar Guru
The Strikers will hardly be able to believe that they have lost this game after coming in as the top side. But the Sydney Thunder have been superb tonight and will know that if they play this way in the final they have a great chance of winning. There is no doubt who the player of the match is. Khawaja made a mockery of the Striker's total of 159. He finished unbeaten on 104 off just 59 deliveries, having taken the Strikers bowlers apart from the start. He played in a controlled manner and rarely looked like getting out, though he was put down early on, Lehmann not managing to take what was a very difficult chance at short cover. But despite the fact Khawaja will enjoy all the limelight, the Sydney Thunder bowlers deserve a lot of credit for the manner they restricted a formidable Strikers lineup. They dismissed the two openers early and also managed to restrict Head and Hodge to small contributions. Despite being expensive at the end McKay claimed three wickets, with Watson and Green also playing crucial roles with the ball in hand. In truth, it could have been much worse for the Strikers had it not been for Ross, who compiled a classy 47 which also enable Rashid and Neser to go after the bowlers towards the end. Rashid and Laughlin gave the Strikers some hope with the ball, but it was ultimately the case that the Thunder would stroll to victory as long as Khawaja was at the crease and they simply couldn't dismiss him. So once again the semifinal comes to a close with the top team failing to reach the final, while the Thunder's hopes are well and truly alive.
Klaus Nannestad
Roar Guru
That's it. Khawaja whips a full toss into the legside for a single and the Thunder are into the final. They have won by eight wickets with fifteen deliveries to spare.
Steve
Guest
Thunder and Khawaja fan. Even still, is it a bit suss that Mark Waugh is a national selector and associated with the Thunder? I know our current ODI team is full of guns in form, but Usman should still be in the national side! Waugh ensuring his Thunder have their best batsmen while Stars don't have Mawell and Scorchers don't have Marsh
Klaus Nannestad
Roar Guru
Nicholls works a single to level the scores.
Klaus Nannestad
Roar Guru
SIX Rashid dishes up a full toss and Nicholls, who has played nicely after a slow start, launches a sweep into the crowd.
Klaus Nannestad
Roar Guru
A decent over from Laughlin. Khawaja hit him for six but he actually made the centurion look uncertain with a few good short deliveries. OVER SYDNEY THUNDER: 2/151 (17th) (Chasing 160)
Klaus Nannestad
Roar Guru
CENTURY FOR KHAWAJA Khawaja brings it up with a well hit six that only just clears the man at deep mid wicket. He has been purely dominant today, as shown by the fact the great majority of the Thunder's runs have come of his bat. How happy will the Thunder be that he returned for them.
MJB
Guest
Well done Ussie!
Klaus Nannestad
Roar Guru
Laughlin is back on now. He may have been the best of the Strikers bowlers today.