The curious case of David Warner batting down the order has paid off with the Thunder’s top three dishing out some capital punishment in Canberra to knock off the Heat by 34 runs.
Warner has bashed balls since the moment he burst onto the scene, but he was barely required as Sam Konstas, Matt Gilkes and Sam Billings dished out their own dose of destruction to help the Thunder post 4-193 to snap their losing streak.
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After struggling in Saturday’s Sydney Smash, the openers found their groove with Gilkes (76) and Konstas (63) adding 127 for the first wicket, with both men raising the bat in consecutive deliveries.
Their running between the wickets frustrated the Heat, while Gilkes also whacked three sixes.
Canberra locals wanting to see Warner had to wait and wait to see him bat, with Sam Billings elevated to first drop once Konstas departed to keep the right hand, left hand combination.
Warner eventually came in with jusr 23 balls remaining but the former Australian superstar didn’t last long before he was caught on the boundary, with the legendary opener adding nine runs in two matches after a back issue ruled him out of their first game.
The Heat might have liked their chances of chasing down 194 given their stunning winning effort to reel in Perth’s 257 last Friday, setting the second highest BBL total ever.
However, on the slower Manuka deck, the Heat were unable to build any momentum and finished their 20 overs 34 runs adrift.
BIG HITS
WHAT OPENING DUO ACT MEANS FOR LEGEND
The Thunder are set to keep David Warner as first or second drop for the time being given the form of Konstas and Gilkes.
The pair’s 127 run partnership is the second highest in Thunder history and will earn them at least a couple of credits in the bank going forward which in turn will leave Warner at 3, 4 or even 5 in the order depending on the game situation.
“Yeah he’s an x-factor,” Konstas said about Gilkes on Fox Cricket.
“He’s been smacking them the last few games and has a few good innings in him (this season).”
Gilkes with an electric opening knock | 03:06
COME IN SPINNER
The injury to Nathan Lyon has opened the door for Matt Kuhnemann to potentially play his first Test on home soil.
The left-arm spinner has played five Tests overseas but is right in the mix to replace the ‘GOAT’ for the Boxing Day Ashes clash, with Todd Murphy another leading candidate.
Kuhnemann took 1-29 from his four overs and was tough to play on a pitch that suited the batters, with the Heat regretting not bowling more spin.
SPIN TO WIN
The target of 194 felt like a walk in the park after Brisbane’s record chase of 258 last week, but lightning didn’t strike twice as their poor bowling finally came back to haunt them as they were held to 6-159.
The Heat’s batters have been forced to do too much with their bowlers conceding 212, 257 and 193 in three games, with their chase falling apart once Matt Renshaw was bowled for 43.
Fresh from his matchwinning century, Renshaw looked set for another huge score before he was knocked over trying to reverse sweep Shadab Khan who starred with 4-24.
The result could fire the Thunder into action after they dropped their first two matches, with a big game against the Stars coming up on Sunday.
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