Munro smashed 98 runs off 53 balls but Sydney Thunder secured an 11-run victory

A batting masterclass from Colin Munro wasn’t enough for the Brisbane Heat as Daniel Sams starred across all three disciplines to inspire his Sydney Thunder to a thrilling BBL victory, which included a controversial final-over move by the umpires.

Munro almost single-handedly kept the Heat in the contest on a damp Gold Coast night, putting his team into a position where it required 16 runs off the final over. That equation soon became 14 runs off six balls after Sydney quick Nathan McAndrew was called for a waist-high no-ball off the first ball of the 20th over. Despite of quick fall of the wickets in the Innings at the Metricon Stadium on Thursday.

HEA VS THU Scorecard: Sydney Thunder 182-6, Brisbane Heat 171-9 – Sydney Thunder won by 11 runs

Chasing 183, Munro smashed 98 runs off 53 balls but was removed by Nathan McAndrew in the final over to dash his side’s hopes.

Thunder have now won back-to-back matches for the first time in BBL12, with the result moving them up to fifth. Brisbane Heat remain at the foot of the table, with just one win from five matches.

Batting first, Matthew Gilkes (37 off 35) and Rilee Rossouw (39 off 35) anchored Thunder’s innings before Alex Ross (25 off 12) and Daniel Sams (36 not out off 15) exploded into life. Ross added 40 runs off 17 deliveries with Oliver Davies before adding a further 42 (17) with Sams as Thunder closed on 182 for 6. James Bazley was the pick of the Heat bowlers, taking 4 for 22. Michael Neser and Matthew Kuhnemann were the other wicket-takers.

Unfortunately for Munro, he found support hard to come by in Heat’s chase, with Bazley (29 off 24) the only other player to reach double figures with the bat.

The New Zealander’s knock included nine fours and three sixes as he shepherded his side into the final over with 16 runs required.

Two no balls from McAndrew (4 for 31) reduced the equation to 14 off six but the bowler quickly recovered, taking three wickets in the over to secure the two points for his side

HEA vs THU Playing 11

Brisbane Heat : Max Bryant, Colin Munro, Matthew Renshaw. Sam Billings, Jimmy Peirson (c, wk), Ross Whiteley, Michael Neser. James Bazley, Mark Steketee, Matt Kuhnemann, Mitch Swepson

Sydney Thunder XI: Alex Hales, Matthew Gilkes (wk).Rilee Rossouw, Oliver Davies, Daniel Sams, Alex Ross. Nathan McAndrew, Chris Green (c), Gurinder Sandhu, Brendan Doggett, Usman Qadir