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SYDNEY: David Warner’s rollicking 130* from 65 balls went in vain as Tim Ward’s 90 propelled Hobart Hurricanes to a six-wicket win over Sydney Thunder here at the Sydney Showground Stadium on Saturday.
Set a daunting 206 in the 21st fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15, Hurricanes chased down the target with ease, losing only wickets in the process with 13 balls to spare.
Mitchell Owen and Tim Ward set the tone early with a 108-run partnership for the opening wicket in just 8.3 overs.
Owen hit an 18-ball 45 with the help of five sixes and a four before getting caught behind.
However, Thunder bowlers could not stem the flow of runs as incoming Rehan Ahmed added another 40 with Ward to take the score to 148 in 12.4 overs.
Rehan made 16, which followed Ward’s and Ben McDermott’s departure in quick succession, as Daniel Sams sparked Sydney Thunder’s comeback.
As a result, Hobart Hurricanes slumped to 166-4 from 148-1 in 14.5 overs.
Tim Ward remained the highest scorer with 90 off 49 balls with the help of three fours and 10 boundaries.
Eventually, it was Matthew Wade’s and Nikhil Chaudhary’s 41* run partnership that took them over the line. Wade scored 13 from five with three boundaries while Nikhil hit two sixes and three fours on his way to 29* off 14.
For the Sydney Thunder, Daniel Sams remained the top wicket-taker with three wickets to his name.
Earlier, Sydney Thunder put on a show with the bat after put into bat first.
The cornerstone of Sydney Thunder’s innings was David Warner’s sublime century, his first since 2019 and his overall ninth in T20 cricket.
Will Prestwidge inflicted a miserable start on Sydney Thunder as they lost two in two in the first two deliveries of the match. Matthew Gilkes and Sam Konstas were sent packing for ducks, leaving the home side 2-0.
However, Warner held the innings together with a string of partnerships. The Southpaw first crafted a 66-run partnership with Sam Billings, who made 20.
The third wicket stand of 95 runs between Warner and Nic Maddinson was the highlight of the innings, particularly the former, who remained the core aggressor.
The duo brought the score to 161 in 18 overs before Maddison retired hurt on 30. But David Warner, who accumulated 14 and 30 from the last over, propelled the score over the 200-run mark.
For his outstanding knock, Warner. was named the player of the match in a losing cause.
For Hobart Hurricanes, Will Prestwidge remained the pick of the bowlers with two wickets upfront.
Hobart Hurricanes are now leading the points table with five victories in seven matches and 10 points.
Meanwhile, Sydney Thunder are now languishing at the bottom with just one victory from six matches.
