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Sydney Thunder have opened the Big Bash League season with a 29-run win over Brisbane Heat at the Gabba, with captain Callum Ferguson the star.
An unbeaten half-century by captain Callum Ferguson has lifted Sydney Thunder to a 29-run win over Brisbane Heat in Tuesday's Big Bash League season opener.
The 35-year-old got the first chance to wear the Golden Cap as the tournament's leading run-scorer in the field after belting 73 not out off just 44 balls at the Gabba.
Ferguson's innings helped the Thunder recover from 3-38 early in their innings to set a victory target of 173 for the Heat.
Alex Ross (30 off 26) and Chris Green (25 off 17) provided support to Ferguson after their underwhelming start, and that rebuild was vital in the captain's opinion.
"You don't plan to win the toss and lose three in the powerplay too often. I knew the stats on that aren't great so it was really important that Rossy and I put together a good partnership without taking our foot off the gas," he said.
Usman Khawaja's 22 off 12 deliveries came after he survived an LBW shout in the opening over which reignited the debate about the unavailability of DRS at BBL matches.
Leg spinner Mitch Swepson was the pick of the bowlers for the Heat with 2-11 but surprisingly only bowled two overs in the Thunder's innings.
In reply the Heat were dismissed for 143 off 19.2 overs.
The home team's run chase started with an eventful first over which featured two big sixes from English youngster Tom Banton (16 off 7) and a wild dead ball delivery from Daniel Sams (2-34) which ballooned out towards the square-leg umpire.
Banton, Max Bryant (11) and captain Chris Lynn (9) all fell cheaply to leave the Heat reeling at 3-40.
Lynn was visibly annoyed after he sent a Chris Tremain (1-27) full toss straight to Ferguson but his brief innings was enough for him to surpass Michael Klinger (1947) as the all-time highest run scorer in BBL with 1954 runs.
Brisbane were given a reprieve when Nathan McAndrew appeared to catch Mark Steketee on the boundary before replays showed the Thunder fielder had stepped on the rope.
Steketee's second life didn't last long however, bowled by Green (2-19) for 15 off 17 deliveries.
Ben Cutting belted 28 off 18 balls including two big sixes off Sams, but the Thunder bowler had the last laugh, clean bowling the Heat allrounder to extinguish the host's hopes of reaching the target.
"A little bit disappointing. Especially when we had them, I think, 5-100," Cutting said.
The Heat will look to bounce back on Friday when they host Melbourne Stars at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast while the Thunder play Melbourne Renegades in Geelong on Thursday.
