The Sydney Thunder continued its dominance of the Big Bash League Indigenous Twenty20 Cup at Orange’s Wade Park this week, downing the Hobart Hurricanes to secure a third consecutive title since the tournament’s inception in 2015.
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The electric greens accounted for the Sydney Sixers in the first two editions of the tournament – which is played annually in the colour city – and claimed this year’s trophy with a 2-1 series win over Hobart, trading victories with the Hurricanes on Wednesday before emerging triumphant from Thursday’s decider.
“It’s great to win, you never want to come into a new gig and lose a trophy,” new Thunder general manager Lee Germon, a former New Zealand skipper, laughed.
“It’s just a such a great concept, it’s great to have the Hobart guys be able to play and there’s great facilities here in Orange, we’ve really enjoyed it.
“It’s a great opportunity give these guys some really good quality cricket, it’s great for them to be able to get this kind of experience.”
Dubbo’s Ben Patterson backed up his game-winning knock in the first clash with another momentum-changing dig in Thursday’s final.
He came in at 4-69 and promptly belted 48 from 20 balls, combining with Tyran Liddiard (35) to help catapult the Thunder to 8-166.
Patterson picked up a scalp as well, as the Hurricanes fell 39 short. Dubbo’s Marty Jeffrey (2-32) was the Thunder’s best with the ball.
Patterson’s knock in Wednesday’s first game was something to behold though.
After coming in at 4-79 in the 15th over Patterson smashed an unbeaten 78 from just 28 balls – including three fours and seven sixes – to lead the electric greens to 5-177.
The Hurricanes managed just 6-104 in reply, Adam Burton (3-15) doing the bulk of the damage.
Hobart flipped the script in game two, Kristian Nikolai thumping 91 as the Hurricanes pushed to 6-164 after winning the toss and batting, before skittling the Thunder for 100 in reply.
“[Patterson] really changed the course game (in both digs),” Germon said.
“He’s a very talented young cricketer but there’s been some excellent cricket on show from both sides, the Hobart guys have played very well too.
”It’s a very good standard, which we’d like to see continue. We’d really like to expand the competition, bring more teams and potentially create more of a series. It’d be great to see some of the other franchises enter sides as well, ideally.
“As I said to the side, we want to make it bigger, make it better and make it something really prestigious.”
RESULTS
GAME ONE
SYDNEY THUNDER 5-177 (Ben Patterson 78 not out, James Whiting 42; Steve Hudson 2-12) def HOBART HURRICANES 6-104 (Brodie Hayes 25, Callum Morse 24; Adam Burton 3-15)
GAME TWO
SYDNEY THUNDER 100 (Damien Duroux 24, Yarran Fair-Townsend 22; Blake Mayne 3-15, Jackson Clifford 2-11) def by HOBART HURRICANES 6-164 (Kristian Nikolai 91, Aaron Tuxworth 29; Mike Jeffrey 1-9)
GAME THREE
SYDNEY THUNDER 8-166 (Ben Patterson 48, Tyran Liddiard 35; Kristian Nikolai 2-13, Blake Mayne 2-23) def HOBART HURRICANES 5-127 (Brodie Hayes 56, Blake Sculthorpe 38; Marty Jeffrey 2-32, Ben Patterson 1-12)