Mitchell McClenaghan is a strongly-built 31-year-old Kiwi left-arm pace bowler who wouldn’t look out of place in an All Black jersey.
He’s very experienced having played 48 ODIs for New Zealand, and 28 international T20s – the last in 2016.
Alex de Minaur is a slip of a 18-year tennis player who won the Australian under-14 and under-16 titles, and still looks under 14.
In 2015, when he first turned pro he was ranked 1574 in the world, but today he’s ranked 167 as his rapid rise continues.
Because of his vast experience, McClenaghan was given the responsibility of bowling the final BBL over last night for the Thunder, with the Scorchers needing 24 to win off the six deliveries.
Cameron Bancroft was 75 off 56, and Hilton Cartwright 46 off 34, with the latter on strike.
But McClenaghan was about to bowl a nightmare over of rubbish on his home ground that left the Scorchers just three runs short.
Cartwright inside edged the first wide delivery for four, smacked the second for a massive six, and the third for two – leaving 12 required from three deliveries for victory.
McClenaghan’s fourth delivery was a no-ball above waist high that Cartwright deposited for two – leaving nine required, still off three deliveries.
Cartwright scored two off the free hit – leaving seven off three – but couldn’t find the ropes to fall three short.
It’s doubtful Thunders skipper Shane Watson will ever trust McClenaghan again with the final over unless it’s at least a 36-run lead.
(AAP Image/Rob Blakers)
Choke from the big Mitchell McClenaghan, but nothing but sheer courage and enthusiasm from the boyish Alex de Minaur.
He was up against the high-quality left-handed Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, ranked 36 in the world, who played his first Slam in 2001.
Just 85 minutes later de Minaur was into the Sydney International semis with a 6-4 6-4 success for his second ATP semi in a week.
Last week in Brisbane he beat the big Canadian Milos Raonic 6-4 6-4, ranked 23 in the world, only to lose in three sets in the semis to American Ryan Harrison, ranked 44th, who lost the final to Nick Kyrgios.
So far in Sydney, de Minaur has beaten another vastly experienced Spaniard Fernando Verdasco (46th) 6-4 6-2, Damir Dzumhur (30th) 6-2 3-0 (ret hurt), and Lopez.
And in every match de Minaur has won over capacity crowds who love his dynamic strokeplay off either wing, and his serve that while it’s no bazooka like those he’s beating, it’s around the 180 mark and well placed.
Simply, this kid is a breath of fresh air. Everything he does just oozes class.
His CV says he’s 180 cms. but every opponent towers over him. Yet one by one de Minaur is mowing them down.
He’s been so successful he’s won a wildcard entry into next week’s Australian Open.
Pundits are saying de Minaur was unlucky to draw Tomas Berdych in the first round.
Berdych had better watch out would be far more accurate – Alex de Minaur isn’t afraid of anyone.
Geoff
Guest
Hey didn't choke. He was crap in this match long before that final over. Lord has all the comprehension of a schoolboy.
Sylvester
Guest
He was contracted, but asked for a release. Also, the 5th equal highest wicket taker in the comp this season.
Paul D
Roar Guru
It's a standard Lordy quota piece, he presumably gets paid to write x number of articles each week and he gets paid to be controversial and drive traffic. Quantity over quality He's like Beardan but with an expert tag
Jacko
Guest
Bill he did EXACTLY what was required and gets rubbished by a bloke like Lord who should know better and has never played a T20 ever......Its F..ing T20.....as much about luck as it is about talent and its about having more runs on the total at the end of both sides innings..the bowler could not have done any more than he did...as in if he bowls the over for 1 run they win...if he bowls it for 22 runs.....they win
Jacko
Guest
Yes where as Aus cracked when the game was in NZ rather than an AUS home game eh!
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Dropped catchesd and poor fielding seems to be the way to go for the BBL.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
McClenaghan's last two overs were absolute rubbish not to mention a dropped catch which should have been taken.
Targa
Guest
I remember a very talented (schoolboy) cricketer (Beauden Barrett) scoring the last try in the World Cup final
Targa
Guest
McClenaghan was the 4th highest wicket taker (and highest non-Indian) in last year's IPL. He also took 3-17 off 3 overs when NZ beat Australia in last World T20. Those are far higher pressure than last night. Sure he choked a bit, but the BBL must be the most overhyped retirement league in world sport. He'll be fine.
Jake
Guest
Kiwi cricketers always crack under pressure. Remember the World Cup final. They lasted 1/2 an over before McCullum cracked.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
"Also there was no replay of the alleged above waist high no ball so it left everyone there doubting it was one." There was on the TV - it was a no ball.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Also attended this match. Great fun. Spotty is the best ground to watch cricket and footy. That's pressure for ya and McClannnnaghhhhan won so there. In Ragnor's defence he did bowl his final three balls well. Also there was no replay of the alleged above waist high no ball so it left everyone there doubting it was one. I loved the humanising dropped catches and inept fielding that makes park cricketers proud and haters of womens' cricket and footy turn away with shame. The one hand off the roof must be not known to the modern cricketer.
Bill101
Guest
Thunder won despite his bowling not because of it - big difference.
Jacko
Guest
Oh dear oh dear......David do you believe Alex de Minaurdo would have bowled that last over better????? From what I see McLennaghan bowled the over for less runs than the opposition needed to win....Job done but you want to rubbish him....Will Alex be perfect EVERY time he plays tennis??? Will he win every match he plays??? What is the article even about??? how bad a guy was when winning the game for his team???
Buk
Guest
Exactly. Presume the logic in him bowling the last over was that they were so far ahead it did not matter too much who bowled.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Thunder might have problems, but they're still light years ahead of the Sixers!
cantab
Guest
McClenaghan is an outright ODI strike bowlers, he kept on getting selected in the NZ ODI team because he just kept on taking wickets. Had he not walked away from NZ he would have been in the running for the fastest bowler to 100 wickets (or close too). You don’t bring him on for dot balls or a tidy over. Hes a high risk high return kindo of guy.
clipper
Guest
Will be interesting. Berdych has been a solid top ten player for a number of years now (although 19 now) so may have too much experience. Lopez is fast closing in on Roger's record of consecutive grand slam tournaments - 63 (soon to be 64) now to Roger's 65
Paul D
Roar Guru
Watto has been gunshy a few times this season about bowling himself. Put Fekete on to bowl the last over against the Heat earlier, and we had it in the bag at that point. Rubbish trundler and Burns duly pumped him into the grandstand. David, re: the approach of this article, I like how you've once again grabbed two totally unrelated occurrences and jammed them together with all the subtlety of a toddler trying to make two barbie dolls kiss. How do you come up with such innovative approaches to journalism
jameswm
Guest
That, plus bowling Green's 4th over when he was about 3 overs for 30 at that opoint. In McClenaghan's previous over, he bowled 2 consecutive wides - same ball each time. The other 3 Thunder bowlers were excellent. They need better. Cummins and Clint McKay are on their roster, but neither can play. Not sure why for McKay, or if he is still going well. Rohrer has to go too. He's a dabber and useful, but he fielded poorly and the Thunder need a power hitter down the order. I actually went last night - nice arena for watching. 15,000 there, which is 80-90% capacity, so the atmosphere was good. And went down to the last ball. Funnily enough when I got home and saw the replaay of Cartwright's 6 off the roof, Flemo made the same comment as me - he should have caught it one handed and it would have been out.