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The Sydney Thunder have stormed into a Big Bash League grand final qualifier against rivals the Sydney Sixers with 21-run knockout final win over the resurgent Melbourne Stars.
Nathan McAndrew (5-16) recorded T20 career-best figures, and the best by a Thunder player in BBL history, to put last year’s wooden spooners only one win away from a shot at a second title.
On a tough ENGIE Stadium pitch, the Stars attempted to chase down the Thunder’s 7-135 but were all out for 114 in the 18th over of a match condensed to 19-a-side by lightning.
Friday night’s clash at the SCG will mark the first time in 14 BBL summers that the Sydney rivals have met in the finals.
Right-arm paceman McAndrew snared both Stars openers in the powerplay before dispatching Mark Steketee (18) as he provided late resistance for the resurgent visitors.
Back from the dead after a five-game win streak, the Stars’ season was officially over when Doug Warren (7) slapped McAndrew to David Warner at cover with six balls remaining.
But it was spin that did the damage in the star-studded middle order.
Tanveer Sangha of the Thunder celebrates after taking the wicket of Tom Curran.Credit: Getty Images
Australian international leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha (2-31) swung momentum dramatically in the Thunder’s favour with back-to-back wickets in the 11th over.
He most crucially caught the BBL’s form player Glenn Maxwell (28) from his own bowling as the renowned spin guru skied one straight up, and then had Curran caught at extra cover by Tom Andrews.
The twin scalps came after Maxwell had looked the most comfortable of any batter on either side, notably slapping Andrews for three consecutive fours as he plotted the Stars’ sixth-straight win.
Left-arm off-spinner Andrews (2-20), who was working full-time as a financial planner a month ago, trapped 20-time Test player Peter Handscomb LBW on the fifth ball he sent down.
The Thunder are up and about.Credit: Getty Images
Called in to replace Test allrounder Beau Webster, the renowned player of spin had survived an earlier caught behind chance from Wes Agar that the on-field umpire missed.
When Andrews gave Usama Mir (5) the same LBW treatment, the Stars were well into the bowlers at 7-73, but still 63 shy of their target as they limped to the finish.
Batting had also been tough going for the Thunder, who lost the toss and were sent in.
The hosts struggled to find a steady partnership after talisman Warner (0) was caught by former national teammate Marcus Stoinis at extra cover on the second legal delivery of the night.
Matthew Gilkes (28), Sam Billings (24) and Ollie Davies (36) all made starts in the middle order but the Stars’ spinners prevented any from truly thriving on the fiendish pitch.
Usama (2-26) led the charge, dismissing aggressive No.3 Gilkes when he holed out to Maxwell, with Tom Curran (2-26) dismissing Warner early on.
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There it is. A great final over from Nathan McAndrew. Removes Steketee (18 off 13 balls), caught by Warner at cover, and concedes just the two runs.
The final wicket is taken off McAndrew’s last ball. He finishes with the sensational figures of 5-16. Best by a Thunder player. Bravo.
The Thunder will progress to Friday’s final against the Sixers at the SCG. A massive Sydney derby.
The winner of that plays the Hurricanes on Monday night in the proper final.
Another seriously disappointing effort from the Stars who had every opportunity to win that match. A BBL title once again eludes them.
Stars all out 114. Thunder win by 21 runs.
Steketee (10 off 7) and Warren (5 off 3) are doing their best.
Stars will need something very special here to stay in this competition.
Stars 8-103.
You’re saying we’re a chance?Credit: Getty Images
The Stars take the power surge and Hilton Cartwright clubs 14 runs off Tanveer Sangha’s last over. He manages a six down the ground and a clever hoick to the leg side against the spin to a ball well outside the off stump.
Gets the equation down to 48 off 30 balls.
“I can’t believe the twists and turns in this game,” says Doug Bollinger on comms for SEN Radio.
OUT. Cartwright is caught really well at fine leg by Garton. Went high in the air. Nathan McAndrew has his third wicket and that could be the game.
Stars 8-89, require 47 from 25 balls
Spin to win. The Thunder’s spinners have been sensational in the past 20 minutes. It’s a hard enough pitch to score on but they have been very clever with their plans.
Tom Andrews has 2-20 from three, Tanveer Sangha has taken 2-16 from three, while Chris Green has returned figures of 1-7 from two.
Just a reminder… the Stars have never won a Big Bash title.
Stars 7-73, require 63 runs from the final six overs.
Tanveer Sangha of the Thunder celebrates after taking the wicket of Tom Curran. Credit: Getty Images
Absolute scenes in Sydney.
Glenn Maxwell is walking off ENGIE Stadium after top edging a ball off leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha. He’s out for 28.
The youngster looked nervous under the return catch but managed to snaffle it in his chest.
The home crowd go wild. Huge, huge wicket.
Stars 5-68, require 68 runs in 46 balls.
WICKET! Another. Tom Curran hits one straight to cover. Out first ball. Disaster. All happening. Are we witnessing another Stars flop? Sangha is on fire.
Marcus Stoinis has to go after a brilliant piece of fielding from Garton in the deep.
Dives forward and takes a ripping catch low in front. Stoinis hit that very hard.
Exactly what the Thunder need. They’d love to go bang-bang.
Fascinating to see what Maxwell does. Will he knock it around more conservatively? Or continue to play aggressively?
I reckon he’ll try and take the match as deep as possible and hope he can get support around him. Blockbuster finish in store.
Stars require 71 from 52 balls (Maxwell 27)
Marcus Stoinis survives a very close LBW shout. Replays showed it was just going over the top. On this deck? Interesting.
Without stating the obvious, the Thunder need a breakthrough in the next three or four overs.
Stars 3-61 after nine overs, require 75 off 60 balls (Maxwell 25, Stoinis 13)
A quality opening over from Thunder leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha. Getting great shape and making sure the ball is getting above the batsman’s eyeline. Just two runs from his first six balls.
Maxwell now cracks a switch hit off Tom Andrews. Goes with the spin and works it down to the vacant third man region.
Again. Same shot. Probably even better. Another four. Gorgeous T20 batting. Three or four good overs of Maxwell at the crease and it could be goodnight.
Another four from Maxwell, this time into the leg side. 15 off the over. Superb batting.
Stars 3-44 off seven overs
We have a game on our hands.
Pete Handscomb survives a close LBW but his luck runs out next ball as he is adjudged out to Tom Andrews. Made 11 from 15 balls.
Tries to sweep one but the ball hits his thigh. Looked out. No review.
Glenn Maxwell walks to the crease with his Stars side needing 109 runs in 85 balls. Set up perfectly for a Maxwell clinic.
Thunder players are up and about. Rightly so. They’ve had excellent energy across the first five overs.
The Thunder are up and about. Credit: Getty Images
