The 19th match of the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2022-23, Sydney Thunder defeated Brisbane Heat in a nail-biting thriller at Carrara Oval in Queensland on Thursday.
Chasing the massive target of 183, the Heat batters looked completely out of touch and kept getting dismissed at regular intervals. However, opener Colin Munro had some other plans as he played one of the finest BBL knocks to keep Heat in the game.
Munro took the game to the wire and kept his end alive until the final over when he was approaching a triple-figure mark. But unfortunately, the left-handed batter, in an attempt to clear the mid-wicket off Nathan McAndrew, failed to time the ball and Daniel Sams took a sensational outfield catch to dismiss Munro. The Black Caps batter ended up scoring 98 from just 53 balls with the help of nine fours and three sixes. Eventually, Thunder won the contest by 11 runs.
Earlier, Heat won the toss and asked the Thunder to bat first. Some vital contributions from batters inspired Thunder to reach a competitive total. Opener Matthew Gilkes (37), Rilee Rossouw (39) and Alex Ross (25) chipped in with important knocks before Sams provided the late flourish to push Thunder over 180.
Sams played an unbeaten knock of 36 from just 15 deliveries, including 2 fours and 4 sixes, as Thunder made 182/6 in their allotted 20 overs. For the Heat, James Bazley was the star of the evening, picking a four-wicket haul while giving away 22 runs in his quota of 4 overs.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
So, close. @manuz05 – what an effort (98 from 53)
Thanks for coming out in droves Gold Coast fans!#BringTheHEAT #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/DM6rbCwz9X
— Brisbane Heat (@HeatBBL) December 29, 2022
Top knock that from Colin Munro but the decision to run for the no-ball probably cost Heat the game. Remarkable that only once a 180+ target has been successfully chased down in BBL since 2019/20 season (200+ matches).
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) December 29, 2022
The @ThunderBBL cling on!! #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/kSaeBTER83
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 29, 2022
First delivery with a fresh, dry ball and Munro is caught on the boundary by Daniel Sams.
Big moment in the game, Thunder win. #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/gvJiDl9rhf
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) December 29, 2022
haha ya score 98 off 53 chasing 182 and still get beat, Surely a ‘”FUCK SAKE BOYS” and a bat throw by Colin Munro when he got back to the dugout #BBL12
— Danny Ando (@AndoDanny) December 29, 2022
Sadly didn’t get the win, but take a bow Colin Munro! What an awesome innings so close to a century 🥲
— Hayden (@haydenjs94) December 29, 2022
Highest scores by New Zealand players in Big Bash League :-
114* – Colin Munro (for Scorchers) v Strikers, 2021
98 – Colin Munro (for Heat) v Thunder, today#BBL12— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@rhitankar8616) December 29, 2022
Well, this Colin Munro innings is a pure example of how numbers sometimes fail to tell the story.
Nothing to take away from him, but he’s equally a contributor to his side’s loss today with those dot balls during final 10-15 deliveries faced.
Pathetic. #BBL12
— Yuvraj Nanda (@YuvrajNanda) December 29, 2022
Anywaysssss I miss Colin Munro so much and am happy for you Queenslanders who should be cherishing him
— B (@__bethlouise) December 29, 2022
Give Colin Munro another chance with the BlackCaps
— CFCDan (@DannCFC21) December 29, 2022
If Colin Munro gets them home from here it just proves how dumb the scorchers were to take Evans in that draft. Already a quality knock @TeeeLew
— Ben Merrifield (@Bennom_1950) December 29, 2022
Well done @HeatBBL now to find a few more Colin Munro hearted type batsmen.
— Claire22 (@ClaireHickey22) December 29, 2022
Well done to Colin Munro. Great innings. Put the team before himself.
Ball change in the last over was pretty [email protected] #BBL12
— journalistagendas (@journalistagen1) December 29, 2022
Take a bow @HeatBBL Colin Munro. One of the all-time great BBL innings.
— Djraj (@Djraj38313947) December 29, 2022
Colin Munro deserved a century!#BBL12
— Farzan Patel (@TheTipsyParsi) December 29, 2022
