Ross, Billings let loose to steer Thunder home

Alex Ross and Sam Billings’ 109-run partnership has shot the Sydney Thunder to a quick-fire seven-wicket victory over the Brisbane Heat, cruising home with 17 balls to spare.

Ross’ fearless batting saw him strike an impressive nine boundaries before a late flurry from partner Billings (five fours and a six) secured victory in game two of KFC BBL|11 at Manuka Oval in Canberra. 

Ross and English import Billings were forced to rebuild early in the chase as Liam Guthrie (2-32) and Xavier Bartlett (1-21) reduced the Thunder to 3-32 in the fourth over, but despite pushing the required rate to almost 10 an over the Heat could not take another wicket for the match.

Earlier, a fierce bowling display from Thunder’s Daniel Sams (3-22) and two-wicket hauls from Gurinder Sandhu (2-17) and Nathan Andrew (2-33) helped restrict the Heat to 8-140 off their 20 overs.

A Heat batting collapse also cost them on the scoreboard with their only shining lights being Ben Duckett, who notched 46 off 35 balls and Sam Heazlett (42 off 37).

Brisbane Heat’s dynamic duo of Chris Lynn and Max Bryant did not last long after being asked to bat first by the Thunder, with Bryant removed in the third over (5 off 11) and veteran hitter Lynn just four balls later (9 off 7).

Nathan McAndrew opened the account for the Thunder in just the third over, removing Bryant, while Daniel Sams dismissed Lynn as the Heat slumped to 2-16.

Two dropped catches by Thunder’s Sam Billings and Matthew Gilkes off consecutive Ben Cutting deliveries in the 12th over saw Heazlett last another six balls, before he and partner Duckett made them pay with three boundaries in seven balls.

Heazlett and English signing Duckett combined for an 83-run partnership off 65 before Heazlett was caught and bowled by Sams.

The left-hander's departure opened the floodgates as the Heat lost 4-12 with Jack Wildermuth the next to fall for the Heat, caught behind off Gurinder Sandhu who continued his impressive start to the domestic season.

Duckett was removed just shy of a half century as Sandhu picked up his second wicket of the night and new captain Jimmy Pierson could only manage three off five deliveries, caught by Ross to a low catch at backward point as the Thunder tightened the screws late in the innings.

A late six by Xavier Bartlett (the Heat’s only maximum for the match) helped lift his side to something to bowl at with the tail-ender finishing 26 not out off 18 balls, his highest BBL score.

Bartlett continued with the ball where he left off with the bat, dismissing last season’s BBL leading run-scorer Alex Hales in the first over of the Thunder’s innings for a two-ball duck.

Matthew Gilkes took hold of the Heat’s bowlers briefly, piling on 20 off 10, including two fours and a six as his partner Sam Whiteman was removed by Liam Guthrie as the Thunder fell to 3-32.

From there Ross and Billings guided the Thunder gain the Bash Boost point by the eighth over before Ross upped the tempo after the drinks break.

Ross notched up his third half century for the Thunder and seventh in the BBL by the 14th over, smashing three boundaries in a row to steer his side towards victory.

He went on to make an unbeaten 61 not out off just 46 balls, while Billings finished 45 not out off 36 balls, leading the Thunder to a comfortable victory with almost three overs to spare.

The Heat face off against the Perth Scorchers on Wednesday in Perth, while the Thunder travel to Melbourne to take on the Melbourne Stars on Friday.

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