A record knock from Sydney Thunder captain David Warner has catapulted his side into the box seat for their do-or-die match against the Hobart Hurricanes on Saturday night.
The Australian great smashed the visitors’ bowling attack to all parts of ENGIE Stadium to finish on 130 not out off just 65 balls — inclusive of 11 fours and nine sixes.
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The 39-year-old was handed a fortunate life after being dropped on 26, before further luck came on 66 after a cut shot forward of the wicket fell within a metre of two Hurricanes fielders.
It was the left hander’s second Big Bash hundred, and first in over 14 years for the Thunder. His final score puts him in rare air across the competition’s 15-year history, becoming just the fifth player to ever make 130 or more in an innings.
He joins Glenn Maxwell (154*), Marcus Stoinis (147*), Josh Brown (140) and Matthew Wade (130*) in the 130+ club.
6-7?! Warner scores second BBL Ton | 00:20
Warner’s ‘six-seven’ celebration upon making his hundred left the younger audience in western Sydney in stitches; a celebration done specifically to his daughters in the crowd.
Speaking to Fox Cricket as he walked off the field at the innings break, Warner said: “It feels good to put 200 on the board. If you kept your shape and you were positive, you could get 200.”
The Thunder made 2/206 after their horrific start, which saw them lose both Matthew Gilkes and wunderkind Sam Konstas for golden ducks on the very first two balls of the match.
‘Start Again?!’ – 2 Wickets in 2 Balls | 00:57
MADDINSON’S 739-DAY WAIT OVER AFTER WRETCHED RUN
Not since Boxing Day in 2023 had Nic Maddinson played a Big Bash match — until tonight.
The 34-year-old was parachuted into the Sydney Thunder’s playing XI for the must-win match at ENGIE Stadium, marking an important milestone for Maddinson after a brutal last two years.
A broken thumb last summer ruled the left-hander out of BBL|14, before an unfortunate bout of testicular cancer forced him to undergo chemotherapy over the winter.
Speaking to Fox Cricket pre-game, Maddinson was grateful to debut on Saturday night for the Thunder, after previous BBL stints with the Sydney Sixers, Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades.
“It’s nice to be out there, and I’m obviously grateful for the opportunity to be at the Thunder,” Maddinson said.
“It was disappointing to get injured last year, but I didn’t realise until I was speaking to someone this afternoon … and they mentioned it was bang-on two years, so a few nerves about, that’s for sure!”
“Everything’s going well, every three months or so (I get checked up) for the first couple of years. It’s all in good health at the moment … I’ve been back playing for a few months now.”
Australian great Mark Waugh added pre-game: “It’s great to see him back fit and well, and when he’s at his best, he is a very dangerous player.”
PREVIEW
The home side has won just one of their first fives matches this season, with their season opener a loss to the reigning premiers in Hobart by four wickets last month. These two teams played in last summer’s BBL final, with the Hurricanes coming up trumps for their maiden Big Bash title.
Wes Agar was one of three inclusions for the Thunder’s final team, with Reece Topley (South African franchise commitments) and Blake Nikitaras (omitted) exiting the 14-man group for the match. Tom Andrews also plays his first game of the campaign.
As for the Hurricanes, who are coming off a 40-run loss to the Perth Scorchers on New Year’s Day, Will Prestwidge returned to their squad at the expense of uncapped batter Hugo Burdon, and replaced Mac Wright in the final side.
The Hurricanes won the bat toss and, unsurprisingly, elected to field. The first ball was bowled at 7:15pm local time.
Sydney Thunder final XI: David Warner (c), Matthew Gilkes, Sam Konstas, Sam Billings (wk), Nic Maddinson, Shadab Khan, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Tom Andrews, Nathan McAndrew, Wes Agar
Hobart Hurricanes final XI: Mitch Owen, Tim Ward, Rehan Ahmed, Ben McDermott, Nikhil Chaudhary, Matthew Wade (wk), Chris Jordan, Will Prestwidge, Nathan Ellis (c), Rishad Hossain, Riley Meredith
