Tom Banton smashed the second-fastest fifty in the Big Bash League (BBL) history to propel Brisbane Heat to victory over Sydney Thunder by the DLS method in a rain-affected match at Sydney on Monday.
The weather saw a delayed start and then limited Heat to just eight overs in the first innings, but Banton quickly made up for the lost time in a 16-run triumph.
The English batsman took just 16 balls to complete his fifty, ending on 56 after seven sixes that helped Heat post an impressive 119-4 on the board.
Further rain appeared the only hindrance to a dominant win, and neither the conditions nor Thunder – chasing 77 in a reduced five overs – could effectively intervene.
Banton blows Arjun Nair away
After bowling a dot ball in his very first over, things headed south for off-spinner Arjun Nair as he was taken to the cleaners by Banton.
The first of the five sixes disappeared over the boundary between deep mid-wicket and long-on before Banton launched the next delivery high into the air straight down the ground. The long-on fielder managed to catch the ball only for him to step over the boundary and drop it.
Banton then added insult to injury when he heaved one over deep mid-wicket for his third six. Then the next one was sent into the crowd over long-on before the Englishman danced down the track to lift another six in the deep mid-wicket region to complete the 30-run over.
Here’s the video:
This is just extraordinary.
Tom Banton launches five consecutive sixes! #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/STYOFVvchy
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 6, 2020
