Overton and Wood star as Strikers beat Thunder

England seamers Luke Wood and Jamie Overton starred as Adelaide Strikers beat Sydney Thunder by six runs in the Big Bash League. Overton took 3-25 as Adelaide defended a score of 165-8, having Matthew Gilkes caught for 43 to break a threatening 73-run opening stand with David Warner. Thunder lost Sam Billings and Sam Konstas for scores of one and two respectively, but Warner rebuilt alongside Nic Maddinson, adding 44 for the fourth wicket.

Jamie Overton is congratulated by team-mates after taking a wicket for Adelaide Strikers
[Getty Images]

England seamers Luke Wood and Jamie Overton starred as Adelaide Strikers beat Sydney Thunder by six runs in the Big Bash League.

Overton took 3-25 as Adelaide defended a score of 165-8, having Matthew Gilkes caught for 43 to break a threatening 73-run opening stand with David Warner.

Thunder lost Sam Billings and Sam Konstas for scores of one and two respectively, but Warner rebuilt alongside Nic Maddinson, adding 44 for the fourth wicket.

Overton, who like Wood has been named in England's squad for February's T20 World Cup, returned to break that partnership, bowling Maddinson for 21, and then had compatriot David Willey caught by Matthew Short for eight in the penultimate over.

The unbeaten Warner, on 66 from 47 balls, remained on strike for the final over with Thunder needing 13 runs for victory, but the wicketless Wood delivered a death bowling masterclass to seal the win for the home side.

His first three deliveries were dot balls, and Warner could only find a single of his fourth.

Nathan McAndrew edged a four from the fifth ball, meaning the tail-ender needed to hit a final-ball six to win the match, but he only managed a single off Wood's last delivery as Thunder finished short on 159-7.

Adelaide had recovered from 19-2 after being put into bat, with Mackenzie Harvey (38) and Jason Sangha (31) putting on 68 for the third wicket.

Both batters departed in quick succession, with Harvey falling to Ashton Agar (3-16), but all-rounder Liam Scott struck an unbeaten 49 to ensure Adelaide had a defendable total.

Thunder's sixth defeat in seven games means they remain rooted to the bottom of the table and they can now no longer reach the play-offs.

Meanwhile Adelaide move up one place to fifth with a record of three wins and three losses.

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[BBC]

Category: General Sports