Australia’s national cricket team 32-year-old and Sydney Thunder all-rounder Daniel Sams produced a sensational performance with the bat in the third match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2024-25.
Daniel Sams activated his beast mode to destroy Adelaide Strikers’ 25-year-old Lloyd Pope, leading his team to an epic victory out of nowhere at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Tuesday, December 17.
Also Read: Watch: Incredible scenes in the Big Cricket League! The batsman survives as the bails remain intact despite the stumps being destroyed.
Daniel Sams pulls off a heist to help Sydney Thunder to a surprise victory
Batting first in the match, Adelaide Strikers posted a good total of 182 for 8 on the board. It was a combined batting effort from the Strikers as opener Jake Weatherald (40), Jamie Overton (45), James Bazley (31) and Alex Ross (22) made good contributions with the bat. For Sydney Thunder, Lockie Ferguson and Chris Green bagged 3 wickets each, while Tanveer Sangha got two wickets.
Chasing the target, teenage batting sensation Sam Konstas scored the fastest fifty in Sydney Thunder history and became the youngest player to record a half-century in the BBL.
After their dismissal for 56, Sam Billings (29) and Oliver Davies (23) made decent contributions, but the match was slipping out of the hands of David Warner’s team.
Things were looking very difficult for the Thunder as at the end of the 18th over they were at 149/7 and needed 34 off the last two overs to win.
Adelaide Strikers brought back Lloyd Pope in the attack, who had figures of 1/17 after his first three overs. And Daniel Sams decided to aim for roulette to make 19 over a big one.
He smashed two huge sixes in a row in the first two balls before the bowler deviated. After that, Daniel Sams hit a four at extra cover and followed it up with a six over the square fence. He then smashed two fours over the cover region and fell straight to the ground to register 31 runs from the over.
In the last over, Sydney Thunder needed 3 runs to win and despite losing a wicket on the first ball, they crossed the finish line and won by 2 wickets.
Watch: Daniel Sams guides Sydney Thunder to epic victory with sensational batting
Do yourself a favor…
Check out this wild ending to a cricket match! #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/bo190SOjyO
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 17, 2024
A crazy 31-RUN 19 from Daniel Sams! 🤯
📺LOOK #BBL14 in chap. 501 or stream via @kayosportsbit.ly/41GRx9l
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📲 MATCH CENTER pic.twitter.com/B5B3hIQ1Nc— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 17, 2024
We’re just being aggressive – Daniel Sams
Speaking after winning the Man of the Match award, Daniel Sams said that they want to deliver good, aggressive performances in the opening half of the competition because that will help them be in a strong position during the business end of the Big Bash League.
Sams added that he found the perfect target to attack in the 19th minute in Llyod Pope and went crazy against the spinner. He elaborated:
“We’re just being aggressive (Finish the match). If we don’t make the most of it, we’ll get it back later. And then as soon as (Poppey) came to bowl in that penultimate over, that was the end to beat this one and fortunately it turned out better.
“(Hitting 31 runs) It’s something I’ve really worked a lot on. I was just trying to think about the next ball. Obviously, the context of the game, the need to get a lot of runs. I’m just trying to be more focused on that ball. and on the next. And try not to premeditate too much.
Also Read: Watch: Sam Konstas rewrites history and becomes the youngest to score fifty BBL
Sydney Thunder finished bottom of the table in the last Big Bash League season, winning just one match, and Daniel Sams said his aim is to do well this time. He elaborated:
“(Winning start) Yes, we already have the same team (as last season). These are the type of victories, especially at the beginning of the tournament, that help you advance a lot. To be in a position where we probably should have accomplished”. And then we’re in a position where it’s going to be difficult to win that ball. Getting off the line is really important, it’s something we couldn’t do last year.
“So we’re going to get a lot out of this game. (Next game). It’s always fun to play against those guys (Sydney Sixers). Personally, we can get along with them.”
