Thunder on song as they defeat strong Bangladesh XI in lead-up to BBL|06
Thunder defeat Bangladesh
The Sydney Thunder have strolled to a six-wicket win over a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI at Spotless Stadium in their KFC Big Bash League warm-up.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Bangladesh captain Mushfiquir Rahim may have been regretting his decision after his side fell to 2-6 after two overs.
Despite the support from a Bangladesh dominated crowd of 5,500, the wickets continued to tumble as the pace trio of Pat Cummins, Gurinder Sandhu and Clint McKay continued to attack.
The visitors reached 5-50 at the half way mark of their innings with no batsmen able to form any lengthy partnerships.
Arjun Nair was the pick of the Thunder bowlers with his turn and drift outsanding; his dismissal of Mominul Haque was one of the highlights of the match.
After giving the ball some flight, it drifted and turned away from the left-handed batsman who was cleaned bowled.
Bangladesh fought back late in their innings as Narul Hasan (35 off 27 balls) helped the tourists post a respectable 8-122 from their 20 overs.
Openers Jay Lenton and Ryan Gibson made a cautious start to the chase, enduring some torrid bowling to combine for an opening stand of 48 before Lenton was dismissed for a 24-ball 25.
Gibson was joined at the crease by captain Eoin Morgan, the pair adding nine runs before the former was dismissed for a composed 25, while Jake Doran didn’t last long, caught for one off the bowling of Tanbir.
Aidan Blizzard joined Morgan and the two added 20 for the fourth wicket before Blizzard (12) was bowled by Shubashis.
Morgan (33no for 34) continued on his merry way, guiding the Thunder to victory as he and Arjun Nair (17 off 15) combined for an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 43.