BRISBANE, Australia, CMC – Sydney Thunder failed to ease concerns about their batting after Chris Gayle again failed and they crashed to a 91-run defeat at the hands of the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League Twenty20 yesterday.
The estranged West Indies opener was dismissed for a first-ball duck and the Thunder failed to successfully chase 195 for victory in their latest match at the Woolloongabba.
Left-hander Gayle chased a wide ball from Alister McDermott, son of Australia fast bowling legend and current national bowling coach Craig McDermott, and was caught behind in the second over.
The Thunder’s batsmen failed to dispel suggestions that their batting rises and falls on the success of Gayle at the top of the order. Australia batsman Usman Khawaja hit the top score of 37, Matthew Day supported with 29 not out and Sean Abbott made 22.McDermott was the most successful Heat bowler, taking two wickets for 25 runs from four overs, also snaring Tim Cruickshank four balls after the dismissal of Gayle.
New Zealand wicketkeeper/batsman Brendon McCullum had a busy day behind the stumps, grabbing three catches, including Gayle’s edge.
Earlier, Gayle delivered three expensive overs, as national T20 batsman Daniel Christian cracked five fours and four sixes in an unbeaten 75 from 45 balls to lead Brisbane to a challenging 195 for four off their allocation of 20 overs.
Gayle failed to take a wicket and conceded 31 runs, as Chris Lynn got 37 not out and shared 71 – unbroken – for the fifth wicket with Christian to put the Heat over the top. Peter Forrest scored 33 and Andrew Robinson added 25.
The defeat sunk the Thunder to the bottom of the eight-team table on four points from their seven matches, pushing the Heat into fourth place on six points and into playoff range.
