Thunder overcome Bancroft-Sams nasty collision to win thriller

Sydney Thunder duo Daniel Sams and Cameron Bancroft have been taken to hospital following a sickening clash of heads during their team's pulsating four-wicket, final-ball victory over the Perth Scorchers.

Scorchers opener Finn Allen cracked 68 off 31 balls and Cooper Connolly chipped in with an unbeaten 43 as the hosts made 4-177 in front of 46,471 fans at Optus Stadium on Friday night.

In reply, David Warner (49 off 33 balls) set the foundations for the Thunder, but their victory hopes looked bleak needing 21 runs off the last seven balls.

A huge six from concussion substitute Hugh Weibgen (9no off six balls) gave them hope, and Sherfane Rutherford (39no off 19 balls) reduced the equation to three runs needed off the final delivery.

Rutherford just got his bat on AJ Tye's final delivery to send the ball to the fine leg boundary and secure a famous victory. 

Thunder players streamed onto the field following the miraculous victory, but the result came secondary to the horrific on-field collision between Sams and Bancroft.

While Bancroft was able to walk off the field after receiving treatment with blood streaming from his nose, Sams had to be taken off on a medi-cab. 

The Thunder later confirmed that both players had been concussed and were taken to hospital for further assessment, with concerns about possible fractures.

They were at least conscious and talking.

Ollie Davies and 20-year-old debutant Weibgen were approved as the duo's concussion replacements by the match referee.

The Scorchers were 4-126 after 15.2 overs when play was halted while Bancroft and Sams were attended to.

Allen was on 31 when Thunder wicketkeeper Sam Billings dropped a tough skied catch running with the flight of the ball.

The Kiwi opener went on to crack six fours and five sixes during his dazzling knock, setting the Scorchers the perfect platform to launch from.

Allen helped take 22 runs off Rutherford's one and only over.

But a superb effort from Thunder spinner Chris Green (3-20 off four overs) halted Perth's momentum as the home side lost 3-8 in a mid-innings slump.

Warner rode his luck during his swashbuckling innings.

The veteran thought he was out on 39 when spinner Matthew Spoors reviewed an LBW decision the umpire had turned down.

Warner, looking at the replay on the big screen, started walking off the field.

But ball-tracking technology eventually showed the ball was only just clipping the bails, with the umpire's call meaning Warner was safe, given the original decision was not out.

At 3-113, the Thunder were a real chance to pull off victory.

Warner's dismissal in the 14th over when he was caught on the boundary was a huge blow, but some big hits from Rutherford were enough to get the Thunder over the line. 

KFC BBL|14 standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	No results N/R	Net Run Rate NRR	Deductions Ded.	Total points PTS
1 Sydney Sixers Men SIX	6	4	1	0	1	0.228	0	9
2 Sydney Thunder Men THU	5	4	1	0	0	0.309	0	8
3 Hobart Hurricanes Men HUR	5	4	1	0	0	-0.154	0	8
4 Perth Scorchers Men SCO	6	3	3	0	0	0.785	0	6
5 Brisbane Heat Men HEA	6	2	3	0	1	-0.727	0	5
6 Melbourne Renegades Men REN	6	2	4	0	0	0.413	0	4
7 Adelaide Strikers Men STR	7	2	5	0	0	-0.299	0	4
8 Melbourne Stars Men STA	7	2	5	0	0	-0.531	0	4

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

N/R: No results

NRR: Net Run Rate

Ded.: Deductions

PTS: Total points