Watch: Matthew Short takes flying one-hander at slip to kickstart incredible Sydney Thunder collapse to 15 all out
Sydney Thunder were bowled out for 15, the lowest total in men’s T20 history, by Adelaide Strikers, with Matthew Short taking a stunning slip catch to hasten the collapse.
The previous lowest total in T20 cricket was Turkey’s 21 all out against Czechia in August 2019, and it could have been worse for Sydney Thunder – their top score of four came from their No.10. The total is the lowest in all men’s white-ball cricket. There have been six lower totals in first-class cricket, although only one of those – Surrey’s 14 all out against Essex in 1983 – has come since the first World War.
Set 140 to win, Sydney Thunder lost both openers, including England star Alex Hales, for ducks, though strangely he was fourth out, with captain Jason Sangha and South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw both falling inside the second over. It was the dismissal of Rossouw that stood out, Henry Thornton finding the outside edge and Short taking a flying catch at slip to send him on his way. Rossouw’s three was the joint-second highest score, level with extras.
From there the collapse continued, with Thornton adding four more wickets to finish with 5-3, and Wes Agar taking 4-6. At least one wicket fell in every over, with two falling in the second, third, fifth and sixth overs.
“I feel like I need to retire now,” Thornton told Channel Seven after the game. “I don’t think I’m getting better than that.” His figures are the best by an Australian in the history of the Big Bash
Brendan Doggett managed to find the fence off his first ball, a thick inside edge running down to fine leg, but he was last out off his next ball.
Sydney Thunder won their first game of the Big Bash League season, chasing 123 down off the final ball with one wicket to spare. Adelaide Strikers are now two from two and top of the table.
Watch Matthew Short’s incredible catch in the Sydney Thunder collapse below:
WHAT A LEAP!!
Matt Short gets vertical to kickstart an incredible collapse from the Thunder! #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/3no1FN73uE
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 16, 2022
