BRISBANE, Australia, CMC – West Indies opener Lendl Simmons emerged from his slump to stroke a small cameo as Brisbane Heat chased down a challenging total to beat Andre Russell’s Sydney Thunder by six wickets in the Big Bash League here yesterday.
In pursuit of 187 for victory at the Gabba, Heat reached their target with three deliveries to spare, with the right-handed Simmons carving out 34 off 25 balls.
Simmons, who failed to score in his two previous innings, struck two fours and two sixes, putting on 72 off 55 balls for the first wicket with Jimmy Peirson whose 40 came from 36 balls with six fours.
Simmons was first to fall, caught at third man by Clint McKay off seamer Shane Watson. His dismissal paved the way for captain Chris Lynn who slammed 75 off 32 deliveries with six fours and six sixes.
Lynn put on a swift 62 off 24 balls with Ben Cutting (22 not out) for the fourth wicket, before becoming one of Russell’s two wickets.
The right-handed Russell had earlier belted two fours and a six in scoring 20 off nine deliveries as Thunder reached 186 for five off 20 overs, after being sent in.
Captain Mike Hussey stroked 56 from 43 balls with two fours and two sixes while Watson hammered 46 from 31 balls with five sixes.
West Indies leg-spinner Samuel Badree finished with one for 26 from his four overs.