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10:50 PM Local time (5:20 PM IST): The Sydney Thunder have qualified for the final of the BBL 24/25 and will take on the Hobart Hurricanes away at Ninja Stadium in Hobart on Monday, January 27. The Thunder's win against the Sixers has not been a comprehensive one, but nevertheless, it is a win to take them to the finals after a long wait of nine years. For now, I, Keshav, on behalf of my colleague, Sourabh, bid you adieu. We hope to see you again soon; until then, goodbye.
Sam Billings (Player Of The Match): "Great performance again. Don't think we played our perfect game, think we are saving it for Monday. The bowlers set the tone for us, we knew they would come back at us. But we managed to go through, that's what we have done all tournament. The great thing about this tournament we have played a couple of finals in the last week, in different conditions. His (talking about Warner) energy is infectious, you get to learn a lot while playing with him, we have won another one without him making a significant contribution, he has played and led brilliantly. We know we will be up against the best team in the competition and it is all to play for. Looking forward."
10:31 PM Local time (5:01 PM IST): Sydney Thunder progress to the final against Hobart Hurricanes
Match Summary: Sydney Thunder: 157/6 (18.5 overs) | Sydney Sixers: 151/7 (20 overs)
Sam Billings: 42* (29) | Hayden Kerr: 2/35 (4) Jordan Silk: 43* (30) | Tom Andrew: 2/15 (2)
The Sydney Thunder are into the finals of the Big Bash League after a long period of nine years. They will face the Hobart Hurricanes at the Ninja Stadium in Hobart on Monday. The win against the city counterparts has come with seven deliveries remaining and not without hiccups.
Sam Billings, the wicketkeeper batter, held on to one end even as wickets kept falling at regular intervals on the other end. However, the two openers, David Warner and Jason Sangha, gave a blistering start to their side with 35/1 in the first four overs. Matthew Gilkes added 36 runs for the second wicket with Jason Sangha, who fell prey to Jafer Chohan's flighted delivery and was caught at deep square leg in an attempt to sweep for a maximum. Soon after, Gilkes was run out as he called for a second run where it should have been just a single. At this point, the Thunder looked under pressure, but Sam Billings exuded maturity by taking singles and doubles to keep the scoreboard running.
Billings two small partnerships with Weibgen and Chris Green proved crucial. What else worked in the Thunder's favour was activating the Power Surge in the 17th over. Nathan McAndrew played a flurry of shots and finished in style with a maximum.
Now let's talk about what cost the Sixers the game in the second innings. Firstly, they started off poorly in the powerplay, conceding boundaries across the park, and that gave a good start to David Warner and co. Secondly, they slacked in fielding today and missed a couple of clear-cut run-out chances for the Thunder to keep sailing towards the target. Moreover, they lacked wicket-taking bowlers on the day when it mattered the most. Although they had only 13 players to choose from as a result of international duties and injuries, they would take this as a positive.
18.5 Ben Dwarshuis to Nathan McAndrew, GAME, SET AND MATCH FOR THE THUNDER. IT WILL BE THUNDER VS HURRICANES IN THE BBL FINAL. A slot delivery on the stumps and McAndrew makes room to pump it all the way over the bowler's head for a big six and that seals the spot for the Thunder in the BBL final, only for the second time in BBL history.
18.4 Ben Dwarshuis to Nathan McAndrew, SCORES LEVEL, fuller at the stumps, McAndrew makes room again and lofts it over the off-side, not timed well enough but enough to clear the circle for two more
18.4 Ben Dwarshuis to Nathan McAndrew, angled down the leg side and McAndrew misses the clip, WIDE called
18.3 Ben Dwarshuis to Nathan McAndrew, FOUR MORE, just one hit away now for Thunder! Width on offer and McAndrew slaps that over mid-off and that is another boundary for him, what is he doing so low down the order?
18.2 Ben Dwarshuis to Nathan McAndrew, short of a length angling across, McAndrew swings and misses
18.1 Ben Dwarshuis to Nathan McAndrew, FOUR, Thunder are now cruising towards the final. Short of a length at the stumps, McAndrew swipes across the line and drags it behind square on the leg side and that races away to the fence.