Perth Scorchers captain Ashton Turner delivered a masterclass innings, falling agonisingly short of a century but single-handedly reviving his team's Big Bash League campaign with a commanding 71-run victory over the Sydney Thunder at ENGIE Stadium.
Turner Joins Exclusive Unlucky Club
Walking to the crease with his side in deep trouble at 3-34 in the sixth over, Turner produced a stunning counter-attack, blasting an unbeaten 99 from just 41 deliveries. His heroic effort propelled the Scorchers to a formidable total of 8-202. In a cruel twist, he became just the fourth player in BBL history to be stranded on 99 not out, joining an unlucky club featuring Shaun Marsh, Josh Philippe, and Colin Munro.
"I've been getting single-figure scores the last couple of games, so it's better than that," Turner quipped post-match. "Once I got to 20, I was like 'at least I've done something tonight'. I knew what I was on, but I also had 200 in my mind as a really good team score."
Miraculous Catch Overshadowed by Batting Brilliance
Turner's explosive knock, which included eight massive sixes, overshadowed a strong contender for catch of the tournament. On the final ball of the Scorchers' innings, Thunder fielders Matthew Gilkes and Sam Konstas combined for a breathtaking piece of teamwork to dismiss Joel Paris for a golden duck.
Gilkes, sprinting around the boundary, caught a ball destined for six but knew his momentum would carry him over the rope. In mid-air, he brilliantly threw the ball back to Konstas, who completed the catch legally inside the field of play. Channel 7 commentator Alister Nicholson described the moment as "remarkable," calling it a "miraculous double act."
Scorchers Bounce Back, Thunder Season in Tatters
The comprehensive win has reignited the Perth Scorchers' season after managing just one victory from their opening three matches. The BBL powerhouse is now back in the top four, while the Sydney Thunder's campaign is all but over, languishing with a 1-4 record.
Chasing 203 for victory, the Thunder started strongly with David Warner (25) and Matthew Gilkes (33) putting on 60 for the first wicket. However, the dismissal of both openers triggered a dramatic collapse. The hosts were bowled out for 131 in the 18th over, with Scorchers bowlers Aaron Hardie, Cooper Connolly, Joel Paris, and Brody Couch claiming two wickets each.
Turner changed the game's momentum during the Scorchers' innings with a brutal assault on the bowling. He took 16 runs from Chris Green's ninth over and later targeted spinners Tanveer Sangha and Daniel Sams. Needing 14 from the final over to reach his century, Turner smashed Sams for two sixes but was denied the strike on the last two balls, leaving him one run short of a maiden BBL ton.
The Scorchers' fielding also returned to its renowned high standard, a welcome improvement after some shaky performances earlier in the tournament. The result sets up an intriguing second half of the season for the perennial contenders, while the Thunder face a monumental task to salvage their campaign.
