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Sydney Thunder win a last-ball thriller against the Scorchers after sickening incident
Jordan Moll • January 4th, 2025 2:08 pm
The Sydney Thunder have moved to second on the BBL ladder after beating the Perth Scorchers after Sherfane Rutherford hit a four off the last ball to win the game.
But the game was overshadowed by a shocking on-field collision between Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams.
The Scorchers were sent into bat on a beautiful Perth night, and they started well, putting on 61 for the first wicket.
In the 16th over of the innings, a ball went up in the air, with both Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams charging to catch it but ended up colliding in a frightening incident.
Both players were concussed and sent to hospital, but they were both conscious and talking.
Play was halted for 20 minutes as both players were provided medical assistance and taken from the field.
Play was halted for 20 minutes as both players were provided medical assistance and taken from the field.
Once play resumed the Scorchers ended up 4/177, with Finn Allen top scoring with his second consecutive half-century, finishing with 68; Cooper Connolly was the next best of the Scorchers, finishing with 43*.
Chris Green was the pick of the bowlers for the Thunder, finishing with 3/20, with Tom Andrews picking up the other wicket.
With the batting stocks diminished with Bancroft Concussed, David Warner had to get going to give the Thunder a chance, and despite an LBW review where Warner began to walk off despite being not out, he went on to make a valuable 49.
Matthew Gilkes also helped the Thunders chances with a well-made 43 and put the Thunder in a position to win.
Requiring 21 off the final seven balls, 20-year-old Hugh Weibgen hit a massive six, making the equation much easier for the Thunder.
Requiring 15 off the last over to win, Sherfane Rutherford smacked Andrew Tye for three boundaries in the final over and needing three to win off the final ball, a thick inside edge ran down to fine leg for four, giving the Thunder a thrilling win.
Rutherford finished with 39* off 19 balls in a match-winning innings in front of 46,471 fans at Optus Stadium.
Lance Morris finished with three wickets for the Scorchers, with Behrendorff, Tye and Connolly picking up one each.
The Thunder will have a chance to continue their winning streak when they play the Heat on Monday in Brisbane.
The Scorchers will look to bounce back at home when they play the Renegades on Tuesday.
