Sydney Thunder 182 for 8 (Billings 72, Sangha 33, Webster 3-42) beat Melbourne Stars 164 for 8 (Duckett 67, Stoinis 22, Agar 3-25) by 18 runs
After Thunder were sent in on a flat Manuka Oval surface, Billings top-scored with 72 off 39 balls having on 16 survived a run out when Stars failed to appeal.
Warner again can’t fire, Billings makes Stars pay
Warner has brought plenty of energy since taking Thunder’s leadership reins, but had yet to fire with the bat. He looked in a determined mood with a second-ball boundary and his placement through the offside was a feature.
Warner ran hard between the wickets and looked to rattle the bowlers with inventive strokes. His best was a switch-hit for six off allrounder Beau Webster as he added 41 runs with Bancroft, who made an unbeaten 70 against Sydney Sixers.
Billings received a major reprieve in the 13th over when he was short of his ground at the non-striker’s end after a direct throw from Joel Paris hit the stumps, but Stars did not appeal.
“You’re kidding me…sounds about right,” grinned Glenn Maxwell when he found out while speaking on the Fox Sports broadcast.
Billings powered to a half-century off just 29 balls but couldn’t stay at the crease in the death overs after he chopped a slower ball from quick Peter Siddle onto his stumps.
“I actually did,” laughed Billings after he was asked on the Fox Sports broadcast if he knew he was out.
More to follow
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth
Source: ESPN Crickinfo