Sydney Thunder ease past table-topping Perth Scorchers to make it four straight wins

Ashton Turner fought a lone battle for Scorchers, who were overcome by a fine Thunder performance at Optus Stadium

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Perth: Perth Scorchers 142-9, Sydney Thunder 143-4 - Sydney Thunder win by six wickets

Scorecard

Sydney Thunder produced a terrific all-round display to go level on points at the top of the Big Bash table with Perth Scorchers.

Scorchers, missing Ashton Agar to Test selection, were on the back foot from the start and, despite a fightback in the second half of their batting innings, were second-best for the most part at the Optus Stadium.

Ollie Davies (58) continued his excellent tournament form with a second successive fifty – also the second of his T20 career – after Thunder's bowlers had reduced Perth to 28 for 4 in the eighth over.

The home side had won their last four games and had lost only once in this year's competition beforehand, but Faf du Plessis (1), Cameron Bancroft (2), Josh Inglis (6) and Adam Lyth (11) all fell early on – Lyth ran out by Davies' younger brother, Joel, as he attempted a third run – to put Sydney in command as they chased a fourth successive win, having earlier this season been bundled out for 15.

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Turner made 61 but he found little support (Will Russell/Getty Images)

Scorchers were indebted to their captain, Ashton Turner, for reaching a total of any note: he made 61 off 37 balls to take his side into triple figures, but he was caught to give Nathan McAndrew the first of three wickets, though Andrew Tye and Matt Kelly offered a semblance of resistance at the death, dragging Perth to a final total of 142 for 9.

That was never likely to be enough, though Jhye Richardson dismissed overseas players Alex Hales and Rilee Rossouw in consecutive deliveries for ducks to reduce Sydney to 10 for 2.

But Davies, along with Matt Gilkes, settled any nerves, before Alex Ross – at the crease after Gilkes mishit to mid-off – struck three clean sixes in his unbeaten 41 to ensure Thunder strolled over the line.

Scorchers' night was compounded when Richardson, who has struggled recently with a heel problem, had to pull out midway through his final over and left the field limping.


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