Sydney Thunder has fallen to the Melbourne Renegades by 12 runs under the DLS method in a rain-affected match at Manuka Oval.
Led by Shaun Marsh (47 from 34), the Renegades made a strong start in Canberra before Sam Harper (52 from 38), Dan Christian (21* from 12) and Mohammad Nabi (11* from 3) powered the Renegades to a total of 172.
New recruit Liam Bowe was the best of the bowlers. The left-arm leg-spinner claimed 2/23 from his four overs in just his second game for Thunder.
Nathan McAndrew made up for dropping Marcus Harris on 11 in the fifth over by claiming the big wicket of Marsh and taking a ripper to dismiss Beau Webster.
WICKET | McAndrew gets his second chance and does not falter, Webster has to walk for 8.
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 15, 2020
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Rain delays saw Thunder's innings reduced to 14 overs with a revised total of 135. Alex Hales (31 from 25) showed good signs at the top of the order and a blistering Alex Ross half-century gave the 9,005-strong crowd some hope however in the end the home side fell 12 runs short.
A message from Alex Ross 💭💚 #ThunderNation pic.twitter.com/CwjhVLsRUA
— Sydney Thunder (@ThunderBBL) January 15, 2020
THE TEAMS
Thunder made three changes after its win over the Hobart Hurricanes, with Jonathan Cook, Jay Lenton and Nathan McAndrew coming into the side for Matthew Gilkes, Arjun Nair and Chris Tremain, while the Renegades welcomed Andrew Fekete back into the side.
Thunder: Callum Ferguson (C), Liam Bowe, Jonathan Cook, Brendan Doggett, Alex Hales, Usman Khawaja, Jay Lenton, Nathan McAndrew, Chris Morris, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams
Who’s excited to see this guy out there for his first game of the season? #ThunderNation pic.twitter.com/tXmBjW4AZG
— Sydney Thunder (@ThunderBBL) January 15, 2020
Renegades: Dan Christian (C), Cameron Boyce, Andrew Fekete, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Shaun Marsh, Mohammad Nabi, Samit Patel, Will Sutherland, Beau Webster, Jack Wildermuth
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Alex Ross.
The classy middle order batsman almost clinched victory for Thunder, smashing 51 from just 26 deliveries including three fours and four sixes.
THE NEXT STOP
Thunder return to Sydney for a Saturday night showdown with the Sixers at Sydney Showground Stadium (7:10pm start).
BBL|09 TICKETS
Saturday 18 January | Vs Sydney Sixers | Sydney Showground Stadium | 7.10PM
Sunday 26 January | Vs Perth Scorchers | Sydney Showground Stadium | 2.45PM
