Sunday’s Big Bash League trial double-header between the Sydney Thunder and Hong Kong had everything – sixes, tons, seriously quick bowlers, crowd catches.
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You name it, it happened. What a day.
The Sydney Thunder won both games but the International Cricket Council associate nation didn’t disappoint at all, particularly 24-year-old all-rounder Nizakat Khan, who capped off the stunning afternoon with a memorable century in the final over of the second fixture.
The Thunder won that game by 14 runs on the back of strong performances from Kurtis Patterson and Eoin Morgan in particular, after stand-in skipper Ben Rohrer led the Thunder to a big win in game one – smashing an unbeaten 63 as the hosts raced to 6-200.
Winning mattered for the Thunder, of course, by the games were as much about testing the side and also offering the developing nation of Hong Kong exposure to quality cricket in its continued bid to become a powerhouse side.
Hong Kong keeper Chris Carter says he and his side will savour the day, which Khan reiterated, having played against a handful of heroes in the Thunder side.
He says Hong Kong will improve thanks games like these against the Thunder, which Sydney general manager Nick Cummins agreed with.
He and the Hong Kong players lauded Orange and Wade Park’s facilities, with Cummins all but guaranteeing the side will return to the colour city soon.
FULL, OVER-BY-OVER RUNDOWN OF BOTH GAMES:
GAME TWO:
The Thunder wins by 14 runs, restricting Hong Kong to 9-155 – 104 of which Nizakat Khan scored – after posting 6-168 in their innings.
MATT FINDLAY’S MATCH REPORT: The Nizard of Oz: Khan’s hundred enraptures Wade Park crowd | Photos, videos
VIDEO: Hear Nizakat Khan’s thoughts on his remarkable ton and Hong Kong’s tour to Orange.
HONG KONG INNINGS:
OVER 20: HONG KONG 9-155 – THE NIZ HAS DONE IT! With a six over third man he brought up his ton, what an innings. Take a bow, sir. A standing ovation from the crowd too. He’s Orange’s newest sporting hero!!!!!!!! Hong Kong falls just short, but who cares, it’s all about this Pakistani-born 24-year-old!!!
OVER 19: HONG KONG 9-141. WICKET! The Niz is 93 not out and on strike for the final over, it’s nail-biting stuff. The whole crowd’s around him. THIS IS AMAZING!!
OVER 18: HONG KONG 8-130. WICKET! A six over point from The Nizard of Oz! He’s 87 not out. Get on strike and go hard son. There’s not a person here who doesn’t want to see this hundred.
OVER 17: HONG KONG 7-123 – A vicious bouncer, a sandshoe crusher and several plays and misses from The Nizard of Oz. Hong Kong are pretty much gone, but Nizakat Khan still has an outside chance of knocking up a well deserved ton and maybe, just maybe, inspiring a remarkable win for Hong Kong.
OVER 16: HONG KONG 7-119 – WICKET! Ehsan Khan departs, McDermott hurries him up a bit too much with a short one, spoons in straight to mid-off who gleefully takes the sitter. The Niz – yes, like The Wiz – is now 80 not out too. Finished the over with a boundary and a fist pump. He wants this ton as much as we do.
OVER 15: HONG KONG 6-111 – Nizzy Khan whacks a boundary to move to 75 not, then skies one. Aiden Blizzard ran rings around it though, and the chance went begging. To be fair, it would’ve been a fair catch – think Fatty Vautin’s one-handed effort all those years ago. 58 needed from 30 balls, with our man Niz on strike.
OVER 14: HONG KONG 6-100 – 69 needed from just 36 balls. It’s doable with Nizzy Khan 70 not out and set out there, just a pity he’s stuck at the non striker’s. Ehsan Khan, rotate my friend, rotate.
OVER 13: HONG KONG 6-96 – Seven off that one from Alister McDermott, including a magnificent square drive from Nizzy Khan. This bloke can bat, give him a contract Thunder! He’s 69 not out now, forget the result, let’s just see this guy get a ton!!!
OVER 12: HONG KONG 6-89 – Fawad Ahmed reigned them back a bit there, just the two from it and a big appeal as well, which was turned down – Ehsan Khan survived it. Big quick back on now, McAndrew could be Nizzy’s bread and butter here.
OVER 11: HONG KONG 6-87 – Nizzy’s going nuts! He’s almost plonked one on Piesley Street off Scott Copperfield, and it went over cover!! He’s now 62 not out, well on his way to a ton and Hong Kong now needs 82 from 54 balls. This is very doable now if he keeps going.
OVER 10: HONG KONG 6-74 – Nizzy Khan brings up a well-deserved half-ton, from 35 balls. He’s on song. Good from him. Hong Kong still needs plenty of runs from not enough balls though. He’ll need to finish 120 not out if they’re to win.
OVER NINE: HONG KONG 6-69 – Nizzy Khan’s moved to 47 not out, he won’t give up the fight but the Thunder bowlers are sticking solid to their plans and executing them well. One or two very big overs might make a difference, but whether Hong Kong deliver or not is a different question.
OVER EIGHT: HONG KONG 6-63 – WICKETS! Fawad Ahmed was on a hat-trick after bowling Simandeep Singh and Shahid Wasif, denied by the straight bat of Ehsen Khan though. Still, 2-4 from the over, a good set from the leggie.
OVER SEVEN: HONG KONG 4-59 – WICKET! They’re dropping like flies around Nizzy Khan. He’s 42 not out, if he can get some support there’s every chance he’ll get Hong Kong home he’s hitting the ball that cleanly!
OVER SIX: HONG KONG 3-58 – WICKET! Another one gone, with Nizzy Khan leaning on his bat at the other end although Hong Kong did still manage eight off the over.
OVER FIVE: HONG KONG 2-50 – Another big over from the Hong Kong side. Nizzy Khan is starting to open his shoulders up here, and is looking good. Another couple of boundaries, one from him and one from Waqas Khan, has the developing side in good shape to chase this down.
OVER FOUR: HONG KONG 2-39 – Big six from Nizakat in that one, sheer pace from Alister McDermott took that well over the third man boundary. Crowd catch was a stinker, too, beer everywhere and punter lost his thong. Then another maximum over mid-wicket. Big over. McDermott is bowling rockets here too. Good from the firey quick.
OVER THREE: HONG KONG 2-20 – WICKET! And it’s a biggie. The skipper Babar Hayat gone – he’s a very handy. Great catch by Patterson at deep-ish gully off McAndrew’s bowling.
OVER TWO: HONG KONG 1-19 – WICKET! That was genuine pace from McDermott there, clean bowling Aizaz Khan for a duck. Skipper Babar Hayat has wasted little time, though, knocking up five off three balls. Nizakat blasted a boundary over backward point again – that’s his go-to shot.
OVER ONE: HONG KONG 0-9 – Nizakat holds the key for Hong Kong in this chase, and he’s started brilliantly. Blasting McAndrew for a four over backward point.
SYDNEY THUNDER INNINGS:
OVER 20: THUNDER 6-168 – WICKET! A six, a wicket and a couple of singles. That’s all she wrote for that innings folks, a great effort from Hong Kong to fightback and restrict the Thunder to a very chaseable score.
OVER 19: THUNDER 5-157 – Lenton (13 not) and McAndrew (7 not) ticking it over. Last over now though, the crowd’s getting restless. They want sixes!!!
OVER 18: THUNDER 5-149 – Two close run out chances in that over, wicketkeeper Shahid Wasif went within centimetres of a direct hit after Lenton and McAndrew took a sneaky single. Bad luck, great bit of work though. Two overs left, let’s go big now.
OVER 17: THUNDER 5-139 – WICKET! A classy reverse-sweep from Ryan Gibson nets him four more runs, and just it looks like he’s getting going he gets bowled. Hong Kong have fought back wonderfully here, showing great character. Jay Lenton and Nathan McAndrew at the crease.
OVER 16: THUNDER 4-131 – WICKET! White gets going, crushing a MASSIVE six and then a straight four before hitting one straight up in the air. I’m pretty sure that six has clocked a youngster too, fingers crossed they’re alright if that did happen. They’re throwing the bat at everything now.
OVER 15: THUNDER 3-119 – White starting the find the middle of the bat out here, 10 of that one. A much-needed 10 for the Thunder, they’d slowed somewhat.
OVER 14: THUNDER 3-109 – Hong Kong doing very well here, the Thunder still looking at a big total though. Ryan Gibson 10 not, Kerrod White 3 not.
OVER 13: THUNDER 3-104 – WICKET! Patterson clean bowled! Pressure’ll do that, two wickets lost back-to-back. Decisive period here. Thunder in control, but if Hong Kong take another two or three there’s a real chance they can restrict the electric greens to a chaseable target.
OVER 12: THUNDER 2-99 - WICKET! Morgan feathers one through to the gloves of Shahid Wasif to be dismissed for 42 from just 25 balls. Incredibly hard-hitting dig, one to savour for the healthy crowd here. Not often you get to see the England captain open up at Wade Park.
OVER 11: THUNDER 1-90 – Hong Kong rallying here, they’ve slowed the scoring quite a bit. Just six from the 11th over, but with wickets in hand a score of 200+ seems almost inevitable here.
OVER 10: THUNDER 1-84 – Morgan moves to 31 not, Patterson well set on 41, partnership’s up around the 30 mark. Could get much bigger than that too if Hong Kong don’t do something about it.
OVER NINE: THUNDER 1-76 – A quiet over in comparison to the last couple, Tanveer Ahmed restricts Patterson and Morgan to just four from it. Well bowled too, clever pace changes, variations.
OVER EIGHT: THUNDER 1-72 – Morgan blasts another boundary, as does Patterson. these two are seriously getting going here. The thunder are motoring along at nine an over here. There is a big score on offer. Patterson 40 not, Morgan 19 not.
OVER SEVEN: THUNDER 1-63 – Patterson won’t be outdone by his Irish teammates, he’s raced to 32 not out with another couple of boundaries. Including one which almost clean up the square leg umpire. He’s reasonably agile!!
OVER SIX: THUNDER 1-52 – Morgan goes BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG!!!! England captain whacks a huge six over midwicket, back sit up with a boundary through point. He looks GOOOOOOOOD.
OVER FIVE: THUNDER 1-42 – Morgan’s off to a great start, the England T20 and ODI skipper is on five from four balls. Patterson looking dangerous, although he missed a chance with a free hit.
OVER FOUR: THUNDER 1-31 – WICKET! Blizzard bowled by Khan for a run-a-ball 10, looked like a quicker one snuck through and clipped the top of off stump.
MORGAN’S BACK. With Patterson melting the ball, this could be very entertaining here.
OVER THREE: THUNDER 0-25 – Patterson’s on, we’re calling it here. Big score there for the taking for the young bloke. He’s 15 not out after brutal, back-to-back pull shots for boundaries.
OVER TWO: THUNDER 0-15 – Babar Hayat throws the ball to spinner Ehsan Khan, who bowls a relatively tight one. Patterson’s hitting the ball clean though, including one crunching cut shot for four.
OVER ONE: THUNDER 0-7 – Aiden Blizzard and Kurtis Patterson opening the batting. Patterson, after being dismissed first over of the first game, is BOWLED! Pity for Hong Kong, it was off a free hit.
GAME TWO TEAM LISTS:
Game one hero Ben Rohrer will sit out the second game at Wade Park, after his stunning man-of-the-match performance. The Thunder XI has won the toss and elected to bat.
THUNDER XI: Eoin Morgan © Kurtis Patterson, Aiden Blizzard, Ryan Gibson, Kerrod White, Jay Lenton (wk), Nathan McAndrew, Scott Copperfield, Alister McDermott, Liam Hatcher, Fawad Ahmed, Gurinder Sandhu.
HONG KONG XI: Babar Hayat ©, Chris Carter, Kinchit Shah, Aizaz Khan, Nadeem Ahmed, Kyle Christie, Waqas Khan, Simandeep Singh, Jason Lui, Tanwir Afzal, Tanveer Ahmed, Nizakat Khan, Ehsan Khan, Shahid Wasif (wk).
GAME ONE:
The Thunder wins by 59 runs. Ben Rohrer leads his side to a commanding first up win.
NICK McGRATH’S MATCH REPORT: Follow me: Rohrer fires up as Thunder thump Hong Kong | Photos
HONG KONG INNINGS:
OVER 20: HONG KONG 7-141 – Late rally from the Hong Kong batsmen, too little too late.
OVER 19: HONG KONG 7-133 – WICKET! Clint McKay loses the ball mid delivery stride. Hilarious. His slower balls are obviously as hard for him to handle as the Hong Kong batsmen.
BIIIIGGG shout for LBW, given this time. Wasif goes for 26 off 24 balls. Handy knock.
OVER 18: HONG KONG 6-126 – Sandhu HUGE appeal for LBW, turned down.
OVER 17: HONG KONG 6-117 – Wasif pulls one for four over mid-wicket off McAndrew, then launches a monster six straight over mid-off. That was impressive.
OVER 16: HONG KONG 6-106 – Ahmed’s leg spin back for Thunder. Tight over.
OVER 15: HONG KONG 6-104 – WICKET! 102 needed off the next 36 balls. Be special if Hong Kong gets anywhere near that.
100 up for Hong Kong.
Direct hit from Ben Rohrer in the field brings up sixth wicket for the Thunder. Great piece of fielding.
OVER 14: HONG KONG 5-98 – WICKET! That was entertaining! Hayat is the wicket, after some stellar fielding and then confusion between the wickets. Hayat is run out for a well made 33.
OVER 13: HONG KONG 4-91 – WICKET! Sandhu drops out short and Hayat whacks him for six. Follows it up with a four over cover. Can bat, Babar.
Picks up the wicket of Shah, for a duck. White with the good catch.
OVER 12: HONG KONG 3-78 – Dropped chance there at keeper from Doran off Ahmed’s spin. It’ll be academic though.
OVER 11: HONG KONG 3-73 – Pace back on through McAndrew and Hayat says thank you. Big man hits a four through mid-off and then pulls beautifully through square-leg for another boundary.
Timely, but might not be enough.
OVER 10: HONG KONG 3-60 – WICKET! RUN OUT! Kurtis Patterson runs out Waqar Khan for 12 off 18 balls. Both Hong Kong batsmen ended up at the same end, but Patterson hit the sticks from the deep. Brilliant stuff.
OVER NINE: HONG KONG 2-52 – Chris Green completes another tight over. Hayat and Waqar battling big time out in the middle. Spin has killed them.
OVER EIGHT: HONG KONG 2-49 – Fawad Ahmed’s leg spin puts the breaks on the Hong Kong batters in a big way.
OVER SEVEN: HONG KONG 2-45 – Green with the ball. Rohrer has rotated his bowlers at one-over spells. Working so far.
The run rate needed is over 12 an over now for Hong Kong. Panic.
OVER SIX: HONG KONG 2-41 - McKay keeps it reasonably tight, but Waqar clips one of his bads for four – much needed for Hong Kong.
OVER FIVE: HONG KONG 2-33 – WICKET! Sandhu picks up a wicket, Aizaz Khan with a leading edge, 6 off 16 for him. Waqas Khan now out there.
OVER FOUR: HONG KONG 1-31 - WICKET! Chris Green on now with his off spin. Nizzy wastes little time in sending one the distance, then goes big again the next delivery to be CAUGHT! Big wicket.
Babar Hayat out to the crease. He’s a gun.
OVER THREE: HONG KONG 0-24 – That. Will. Hurt. Aizaz Khan cops one off the bowling of McAndrew, and from up here in the stand, it’s coped him very close to the box. He’s sucking in the big ones.
Tight over, that one. 177 needed off 102.
OVER TWO: HONG KONG 0-22 – This Nizikat Khan CAN PLAY. He’s just smashed Gurindah Sandu over cover for a massive six. They’re on fire early, Nizzy smashing 19.
OVER ONE: HONG KONG 0-11 – Clint McKay bowling for Thunder
Aizaz Khan and Nizakat Khan at the crease. Solid start for the Khan pair, particularly Nizzy.
THUNDER INNINGS:
OVER 20: THUNDER 6-200 - Rohrer hits his 50, then nails a huge six, dropped by a bloke in the crowd. Awful.
He then hits a four, before some tight bowling from Kyle Christie.
Rohrer finishes 63 not out.
OVER 19: THUNDER 6-185 – WICKET! Nadeem Ahmed back in the attack and Rohrer whacks him everywhere!
Rohrer 6 over mid-wicket, 6 over cover, 2, then 1. Green follows with a big swing, but his stumps go everywhere.
50 partnership off 19 balls between Green (24) and Rohrer (49).
Green 24 off 13 balls.
McAndrew then dropped at deep square-leg.
Eventful over. Run rate 9.70 an over.
OVER 18: THUNDER 5-168 – Rohrer SIIIXXXX! Tanveer dispatched over backward square-leg. Tanveer has become a bit erratic late in this innings.
BANG, GANG: Four to Green, leg glance to a vacant fine leg region. Then four again over mid-wicket.
Thunder running between the wickets exceptional.
OVER 17: THUNDER 5-148 – Chris Green hits Aizaz over cover for four, then squirts one through backward point – handy runs. Run rate is 8.70 per over at the moment.
OVER 16: THUNDER 5-135 – WICKET! Well, that didn’t go to plan. Doran ramps one to the keeper, looked to come off his hip, but the umpire fired him anyway. Tanveer with the wicket.
Doran hit 30 off 20 balls.
OVER 15: THUNDER 4-131 – 50 partnership for Doran and Rohrer, off 34 balls too. This pair is ticking it along well.
Doran 29, Rohrer 25.
OVER 14: THUNDER 4-118 – Rohrer and Doran ticking it over nicely here. Big ending to come in next six overs if these two stick together.
OVER 13: THUNDER 4-110 – Tanveer Ahmed into the attack. He’s pushing off the fence, but it’s nothing more than medium pace.
That’s the 100 up for Thunder, too, with Rohrer cutting one for four through point. Doran goes aerial in that over, over point for four.
OVER 12: THUNDER 4-98 – Bowling change, with Ehsan Khan’s spinners back in the attack. Doran hits a four through cover to tick the score along.
OVER 11: THUNDER 4-91 – Benny Rohrer getting an out-and-out freebee in that over from Nizakat – he’s off the mark with a full toss that heads to the boundary.
Bit of a rebuild after a few wickets. Still on track for a decent score.
OVER 10: THUNDER 4-82 – WICKET! Morgan falls! Ripper of a nut from Christie, generating plenty of bounce to get the England skip for 30, caught behind.
Jake Doran to the crease. Plenty of raps on this kid.
Very good over from Christie – W, 0, 1, 0, 0, 2
OVER NINE: THUNDER 3-79 – Bowling change with Nizakat Khan stemming the pace for the Thunder. Morgan on 30 now.
OVER EIGHT: THUNDER 3-73 – Yes! That’s what we came to see, Morgan whacks Christie over the Wade Park dog box for a huuuuge six. Eastlake would be going nuts over that one #HUUUUUUUGGEEE
Christie responds with the wicket of Gibson, though, for 11 off 13 balls.
Run rate is nine an over, on track for a big target here at Wade.
Morgan 25.
OVER SEVEN: THUNDER 2-59 – Thunder working their way in this through the middle period. Tidy over from Eshan.
OVER SIX: THUNDER 2-53 – Another bowling change. Kyle Christie in for Hong Kong. Thunder running well between the wickets. Morgan proving very classy, as expected.
Morgan 14, Gibson 3.
OVER FIVE: THUNDER 2-43 – Ehsan Khan with his finger spin now. Tidy start to. Good bounce in this Wade Park wicket.
OVER FOUR: THUNDER 2-38 – WICKET! Morgan hits his first boundary, and Blizzard is clean bowled two balls later. Good reply from Aizaz there. Ryan Gibson at the crease.
Blizzard out for 26 off 14 balls.
OVER THREE: THUNDER 1-32 – Blizzard 4, 4, 2, 4, 0, 4 in that Ahmed over. Power and finesse. Lovely to watch.
OVER TWO: THUNDER 1-14 – Five wides from Aizaz Khan’s first ball helps the Thunder, and Blizzard is off to a flier with a cracking six! Morgan yet to score.
FIRST OVER: THUNDER 1-2 – WICKET! Patterson gone for ONE! Nadeem Ahmed’s spinners catches Patto out at first slip.
EOIN MORGAN TO THE CREASE.
GAME ONE TEAM LISTS:
HONG KONG XI: Carter, Shah, Hayat ©, Khan, Ahmed, Christie, Khan, Ahmed, Khan, Khan, Wasif.
SYDNEY THUNDER XI: Patterson, Blizzard, Morgan, Rohrer (c), Gibson, Doran, Green, McAndrew, McKay, Sandhu, Ahmed.
The Thunder won the toss and elected to bat.
THE LEAD UP:
In the lead-up to the huge matches, Benny Rohrer recalled his has fond memories of his last trip to Orange … only problem is, most of those memories are at the Orange Base Hospital.
The veteran T20 gun skippered the electric greens on Sunday at Wade Park in game one before England skipper Eoin Morgan took over in game two.
That’s an in young keeper-batsman Jay Lenton was pumped about.
While, in the opposition camp, Hong Kong chief executive hopes Australian tour can boost nation's rise in cricket world
Hong Kong’s 10-day tour of Australia, which kicked off with Sunday’s back-to-back Twenty20 games against the Sydney Thunder at Wade Park, shapes as a crucial facet of the burgeoning side’s development as a cricketing nation.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT: Sydney Thunder to land in Orange.
THIS ISN’T A TRIAL: Thunder say the side will take game very seriously.
BRING IT ON: Orange’s cricket fans salivating over T20 at Wade.
THE COUP: Morgan signs with Thunder.
THIS WILL BE FAR FROM EASY: Thunder GM lauds talented Hong Kong.