Mahmood, Billings and Sangha propel Sydney Thunder to victory
England quick marks BBL debut with four wickets inside the first three overs of Thunder's defence of 196
AAP
19-Dec-2021
Saqib Mahmood bagged 4 for 22 in his three overs • Getty Images
Sydney Thunder 7 for 196 (Billings 64, Sangha 39, Swepson 2-27) beat Brisbane Heat 143 (Bartlett 42*, Mahmood 4-22, Sangha 3-26) by 53 runs
Saqib Mahmood made BBL history before Brisbane Heat's tail saved some face as Sydney Thunder won by 53 runs at the Gabba.
On debut for Thunder, English quick Mahmood became the first man in the BBL and only the 10th person in T20 cricket anywhere in the world to take four wickets inside the first three overs of an innings.
Mahmood couldn't believe his luck when Jimmy Peirson clipped one to deep fine leg, giving him 4 for 9 from just 11 balls after his first delivery was sent to the boundary by Chris Lynn.
Lynn, Ben Duckett and Sam Heazlett all fell though, with the chase of the Thunder's 7 for 196 looking all but over.
A horror run-out added to Heat's misery, the hosts sinking to 5 for 15 inside the first three overs, before bowlers Xavier Bartlett and Mark Steketee combined for a BBL record 79-run eighth wicket stand.
That pair's partnership came too late for Heat to even salvage the Bash Boost point, Steketee eventually falling just as a miracle comeback victory was being entertained.
Sam Billings (64 off 27) had earlier powered the Thunder's innings, the English wicketkeeper hitting five sixes and five fours as he swept both spinners and pacemen over the rope. His innings came after Alex Hales and Jason Sangha had set the tone, leaving Heat a huge chase if they were to win a second straight game.
It could have been an even steeper task if not for Mitchell Swepson bowling Sangha around his legs. Bartlett also took two wickets but went for 45 from his four overs, while Steketee also grabbed two wickets on his return from national duties where he was briefly called up to bolster the squad after Pat Cummins' Covid close contact drama.
Thunder held back the in-form Alex Ross until the final over despite him coming off three unbeaten knocks, his last a whirlwind 77 off 49.
Ross thought he'd found a boundary, but his lap sweep was well caught by wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson. He had deflected the ball past his off stump towards fine leg, but Peirson reacted incredibly well to pouch the catch in his left hand.
Tom Cooper entered the game as the Heat's X-factor sub, in for Tom Abell after he jammed his hip while attempting an outfield catch in the second over.