Daniel Sams's Cameo Sets Up First Win For Thunder In BBL 2024

Daniel Sams's magnificent cameo of 42 off 18 just balls, along with a fine half-ton from debutant Sam Konstas sealed a 2-wicket win for David Warner-led- Sydney Thunder in their game of the tournament in BBL 2024-25. At one stage the Thunder were well behind the eight-ball as they needed 34 off the last overs with only 3 wickets in hand. That's the point when Sams switched gears and thumped Llyod Pope for 31 runs in the penultimate over with 3 boundaries & 3 biggies. The equation then came down to a gettable 3 off 6 in the last over.

Debutant Sam Konstas has been in some brilliant form in recent times as he continued his brilliant from the Australia A vs India A test series to the BBL. Konstas in his debut innings smashed a couple of fours in the opening over, he then took down James Bazley & henry Thornton for 19 & 15 runs respectively to help Thunder reach 50 in just four overs. The Thunders lost their captain David Warner cheaply at cover point in their bid to score some quick runs.

Konstas reached the 50 landmark in just 20 balls, but, the Thunders lost an experienced player in Cameron Bancroft in the 6th over as he was dismissed by Jamie Overton. Konstas was going in full swing until Fabian Allen came into the attack. Allen's introduction proved to be a masterstroke played by Matt Short as Allen trapped Konstas LBW in front. Suddenly, Thunder collapsed and lost 3 wickets in quick succession.

It was then the experienced duo of Sam Billings & Sherfane Rutherford who came in and stitched together a crucial 47-run stand and rebuilt the innings for the next six-a-half overs.

But the Sydney Thunder lost their way again as both Sam Billings & Sherfane Rutherford fell in successive overs to leave Sydney reeling at 130-6 in 16 overs. It was at this point the Thunder took the power surge, the move didn't work out well as the Thunder could only score 19 runs in 2 overs at the cost of Chris Green.

It was in the end the cameo of Daniel Sams that helped Sydney Thunder get their first points in the kitty for BBL 2024-25.

How Did Adelaide Get To 180-mark?

Earlier in the day, Jake Weatherald powered Strikers' innings with a 19-ball 40 as he smashed McAndrew for 18 runs in the second over. However, due to wickets falling in clusters in the middle period through three-fers by Lockie Ferguson and Chris Green, the Strikers were biting the dust at 101 for 6. But, James Bazley (31 off 12) and Jamie Overton (45 off 35) came to the rescue of the Strikers and helped them reach to a good total of 182-8 after the end of the first innings.

Overton then added to the total with two huge sixes in the 19th over off Daniel Sams that helped the Strikers cross the 180-run mark, unfortunately, it didn't prove enough for them to claim a win.

Brief Scores: Adelaide Strikers 182/8 in 20 overs (Jamie Overton 45, Jake Weatherald 40; Lockie Ferguson 3-24, Chris Green 3-27) lost to

Sydney Thunder 183/8 in 19.4 overs (Sam Konstas 56, Daniel Sams 48*; Jamie Overton 2-28, Henry Thornton 2-34) by 2 wickets