Australian Test opener David Warner returned to the Twenty20 scene in style on Saturday, hitting 102 to steer his Sydney Thunder side to a six-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars in their Big Bash League clash at the MCG.
Australian Test opener David Warner returned to the Twenty20 scene in style on Saturday, hitting 102 to steer his Sydney Thunder side to a six-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars in their Big Bash League clash at the MCG.
The 25-year-old left-hander faced just 51 balls, and hit six fours and six sixes to power the Thunder to victory with six balls to spare, the team total finishing on 4-154.
Warner had an ounce of luck in his innings, as television replays showed Stars 'keeper Matthew Wade inadvertently kicked the ball onto the stumps, with the batsman failing to ground his bat in time.
But a lack of appeal from the home side saw the incident go unnoticed by the umpire.
Warner was well supported by Daniel Smith (21) and Ben Dunk (19), with the latter there at the finish to hit the winning runs.
Returning hero Shane Warne played little part in the contest for the losing Stars, as he failed to get a wicket and conceded 19 runs from his two overs.
Earlier, the Stars compiled 7-153 after being sent into bat by Sydney skipper Warner, but the big-hitting New South Welshman was at his powerful best in reply, backing up from his heroic century in the second Test against New Zealand earlier in the week.
David Hussey was the shining light for the Stars with the bat, bludgeoning 52 from 27 deliveries, with support coming from George Bailey (23) and Luke Wright (27).
The Stars struck 37 runs from their opening six overs under the batting powerplay, as the Thunder rotated through their range of bowlers in an attempt to disallow Melbourne's batsmen any rhythm.
Rob Quiney was dismissed in the eighth ball of the innings, chipping a meek shot to mid-on off the bowling of Doug Bollinger.
Warner's rotational policy paid dividends when left-arm spinner Luke Doran was brought into the attack - the fifth bowler used in the opening seven overs - and he nabbed Wade, caught by Scott Coyte trying to sweep.
The Stars brought up their 50 total when Thunder 'keeper Daniel Smith failed to hold onto an edged Hussey shot when the Victorian was on just one.
The drop could have proved costly for the Thunder, as Hussey was the mainstay in the Stars' innings, but Warner stamped his authority on the contest for the visitors.
Warne's team-mate James Faulkner was the best-performed bowler in the match, nabbing 2-20 from four overs, including the prized scalp of West Indian import Chris Gayle for just four.
Bollinger (2-22 off three) and Coyte (2-26 off four) were the Thunders' best with the ball.
