• Nathan McAndrew's exceptional five-wicket haul propelled Sydney Thunder to a 21-run victory over Melbourne Stars in the BBL| 14 Eliminator.

  • Sydney Thunder clinched their spot in the Challengers match, where they will face Sydney Sixers.

Twitter reactions: Nathan McAndrew’s exceptional bowling powers Sydney Thunder to victory over Melbourne Stars in BBL|14 Eliminator
Sydney Thunder 21-run victory over Melbourne Stars in the BBL 14 Eliminator (Image Source: X)

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In the Eliminator match of the Big Bash League (BBL) | 14, Sydney Thunder defeated Melbourne Stars by 21 runs at the Sydney Showground Stadium, securing their place in the upcoming Challengers match. With a brilliant performance from Nathan McAndrew, who claimed five wickets, Thunder sealed a hard-fought win and advanced to face Sydney Sixers for a spot in the final.

Sydney Thunder’s decent total in a reduced overs contest

Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision they hoped would work in their favor given the conditions. However, the game was reduced to 19 overs per side due to bad weather and lightning delays. Sydney Thunder managed to post a modest total of 135/7, a score they hoped would be competitive. Sydney Thunder’s innings was built around solid contributions from Matthew Gilkes and Oliver Davies. Gilkes score 28 runs off 18 balls, hitting 3 fours and 1 six. Davies played a steady knock, scoring 36 off 35 balls with 2 fours and 1 six. Despite the late flurry of wickets, Thunder’s total of 135/7 was a challenging one, considering the weather-affected conditions.

The Melbourne Stars’ bowling attack was led by Tom Curran and Usama Mir, both of whom picked up two wickets each. Meanwhile, veteran Peter Siddle, captain Marcus Stoinis, and Doug Warren each claimed one wicket. Despite the best efforts of the bowlers, the Stars couldn’t quite contain Thunder’s lower order, and the target of 136 proved to be a tough one to chase.

Also WATCH: Doug Warren’s ice-cold celebration after dismissing Sam Billings in the Eliminator of BBL|14

Nathan McAndrew’s heroic bowling steers Thunder to victory

Chasing 136, Melbourne Stars struggled from the outset. They were soon reduced to 114 all out in just 18 overs, falling short by 21 runs. Glenn Maxwell was the top scorer for the Stars, contributing 28 runs off 21 balls with 3 fours and 1 six. However, a flurry of wickets halted their progress, and they could not build partnerships to threaten Thunder’s total.

McAndrew delivered a match-winning performance with a career-best 5/16, the best bowling figures by a Sydney Thunder player in BBL history. His performance was the standout moment of the game, and he was deservedly named Player of the Match. Alongside McAndrew, Tanveer Sangha and Tom Andrews each took two wickets, with Chris Green adding a crucial scalp to his name as well. With the victory, Sydney Thunder secured their place in the Challengers match, where they will face Sydney Sixers in a crucial encounter to decide who will meet the Hobart Hurricanes in the final.

Here is how Twitter reacted:

Also READ: Twitter reactions: Hobart Hurricanes march into the final after defeating Sydney Sixers in BBL|14 Qualifier

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About the Author:
SIDDHARTHA SAWLANI
Siddhartha is a Content Strategist at Cricket Times, holding a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. His passion for cricket was ignited by India’s triumph in the 2011 World Cup. Alongside his dedication to cricket, Siddhartha is an accomplished state-level table tennis player. With a longstanding ambition to become a sports journalist, he brings both academic expertise and a deep enthusiasm for the sport to his role. His admiration for AB de Villiers underscores his commitment to excellence in cricket journalism. You can write to him at siddhartha@crickettimes.com and follow him on Linkedin.