SYDNEY Thunder needed a win to remain alive in the Big Bash League, but a crushing 77-run defeat to Adelaide Strikers ended their hopes.Kieron Pollard smashed five sixes in a 22-ball 47 as the Adelaide Strikers ended Sydney Thunder’s hopes of reaching the Big Bash League semi-finals with a 77-run victory yesterday.
The Strikers came into this meeting at the Sydney Showground Stadium bottom of the table, with their own last-four ambitions already over, while the defending champions needed a victory from their final fixture to stay alive in the tournament.
But New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi returned 6-11 – the second best BBL figures behind Lasith Malinga’s 6-7 in 2012 – as the Thunder collapsed to 101 all out after the Strikers had posted 178-5.
Ben Dunk became this season’s top run-scorer, overtaking Chris Lynn as the Strikers opener plundered 65 from 40 deliveries, including five fours and three maximums.
He had good support from the evergreen Brad Hodge (39 from 32), before Pollard clubbed in his 22-ball 47.
Only Shane Watson (39) and Kurtis Patterson (29) reached double figures in reply for the Thunder, as the Strikers gained a consolation win to send the holders to the bottom of the table.
West Indian all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite on the other hand had an evening to forget.
The Twenty20 captain, with lime green bat in hand lasted only two deliveries as Sodhi ripped through the Thunder batting line-up. Brathwaite had also dropped Dunk when the opener was on eight – the missed chance seeming to spark the electric opener into gear, hitting his first six two balls later and then accelerating to his 50. (Sportsmax.com)