PS vs ST

19:30 PM IST|| That is all we have in our live coverage of this game between the Sydney Thunders and Perth Scorchers. This is Samanvaya Sharma signing off on behalf of Arya as we draw the curtain to this game now. See you again tomorrow with an exciting cricketing contest. Till then take care of yourselves, folks.

Sherfane Rutherford: First of all I am happy for this opportunity. Was a bit nervy for me to be honest as I didn't start the tournament well. Our plan was to silence the crowd and we managed to do it tonight. David Warner has brought a lot of vibe and gelling as an unit and whichever team has the vibe is bound to win more games.

19:16 PM IST|| Match Summary ||  Sydney Thunder won by 4 wickets.

Finn Allen 68(31) | David Warner 49(33)
Chris Green 3/20 | Lance Morris 3/22

The Sydney Thunder secured a thrilling victory over the Perth Scorchers, chasing down 177 runs on the last ball. Winning the toss, Thunder captain David Warner invited the Scorchers to bat first on a batting-friendly surface.

Perth's innings began cautiously, with Finn Allen and Matthew Hurst adjusting to the conditions. The opening duo took their time to settle in, carefully navigating the initial overs. However, from the second over onwards, they shifted gears, taking advantage of the batting-friendly surface. The Scorchers scored 35 runs without losing a wicket in the powerplay, setting the tone for a potentially explosive innings. Allen and Hurst's partnership flourished, with the duo rotating the strike and finding boundaries at regular intervals.

Chris Green's introduction into the attack broke the opening partnership, dismissing Hurst in the 7th over. The Thunder's spinners, particularly Green, slowed the Scorchers' momentum, making it difficult for the batsmen to score freely. Despite Green's two consecutive wickets, the Scorchers took advantage of the Power Surge, scoring 28 runs between overs 15-17. A severe collision between Daniel Sams and Cameron Bancroft led both of them out of the ground with Hugh Weibgen and Oliver Davies approved as the official concussion substitutes for the rest of the game. Cooper Connolly's cameo helped the Scorchers reach 177 runs, providing a late surge to the innings. The Scorchers' total was competitive, but the Thunder's batting lineup was more than capable of chasing it down.

In response, the Thunder's innings began with a setback, losing Blake Nikitaras (replacing the injured Bancroft) in the 2nd over. Lance Morris's pace and accuracy proved too much for Nikitaras, who departed for just 1 run. However, Matthew Gilkes and David Warner showcased brilliant batting, propelling the Thunder to 85-1 in 10 overs. The duo's partnership was marked by innovative strokeplay, aggressive running, and clever rotation of the strike. Despite losing two wickets during the Power Surge, the Thunder remained on course. Warner's departure, courtesy of a stunning catch by Finn Allen, was a significant blow, but the Thunder's middle order refused to panic.

With 15 runs required off the final over, Sherfane Rutherford clinched victory in style, hitting a boundary to seal the win. The Thunder's victory was a testament to their batting depth and resilience. Lance Morris was the standout bowler for the Scorchers, claiming three wickets and conceding just 22 runs from his four overs. Chris Green's three-wicket haul earlier in the match had set the tone for the Thunder's victory.

This nail-biting win earned the Sydney Thunder two crucial points, propelling them up the Big Bash League table. The victory was a significant morale booster for the Thunder, who will look to carry this momentum into their upcoming fixtures.

19.6 Andrew Tye to Sherfane Rutherford, FOUR! Rutherford sees the Sydney Thunder through. On a fullish-length following Rutherford, he goes for the flick and ends up squirting it off the inside half of the bat, races away to the backward square leg boundary. 

19.5 Andrew Tye to Sherfane Rutherford, a low full toss which has been squeezed off his pads over the keeper's head and comes back for a brace. 

19.4 Andrew Tye to Sherfane Rutherford, FOUR! Five required off two. On a fuller-length a shade outside off, Rutherford makes some room and launches it flat and hard over the mid-off fielder's head. 

19.3 Andrew Tye to Sherfane Rutherford, that's very well bowled by Tye. Goes for the wide yorker and ends up bowling it inside the tramline, Rutherford felt it could  be a wide and lets it go through to the keeper. 

19.2 Andrew Tye to Sherfane Rutherford, FOUR! Another attempted yorker from Tye, ends up as a full toss a shade outside off, the southpaw throws his hand at that and slices it away past the short third man fielder for a boundary. 

19.1 Andrew Tye to Sherfane Rutherford, flicks away the fuller one on the pads down towards the deep fine leg fielder, bursts through his fingers but manages to keep it to a brace. 

18.6 Jason Behrendorff to Hugh Weibgen, SIX! That's a massive blow in the context of the game. Weibgen makes some space and Behrendorff for the first time in the over delivers a slot delivery into his arc. Swings it across the line and sends it well over the midwicket fence. 

18.5 Jason Behrendorff to Hugh Weibgen, a well directed short delivery from Behrendorff, Weibgen bails away thinking it would be a wide but not given. 

18.4 Jason Behrendorff to Hugh Weibgen, Weibgen comes down the track and slashes away the shorter length delivery outside off, well over the backward point fielder and comes back for a brace. 

18.3 Jason Behrendorff to Sherfane Rutherford, low full toss around middle and low, was a slower one and Rutherford tres to launch it down the ground, off the inside edge onto his legs and takes a single.. 

18.2 Jason Behrendorff to Hugh Weibgen, Weibgen taps the back of a length delivery around middle and leg, to the left of the surface and takes a quick single.  

18.1 Jason Behrendorff to Sherfane Rutherford, Rutherford makes some room and Behrendorff follows him with a yorker-length delivery, jammed away towards the fine leg region for a single.