Sydney Thunder seal dramatic one-wicket win over Melbourne Stars in BBL opener

Thunder suffered a batting collapse in pursuit of 123 before Gurinder Sandhu, batting at No.9, saved the day

Canberra: Melbourne Stars 122-8, Sydney Thunder 123-9 - Sydney Thunder won by one wicket

Scorecard

The 2022/23 season of the Big Bash started in dramatic fashion, with Sydney Thunder sealing a one-wicket win off the final delivery against Melbourne Stars in Canberra.

Their 123-run target did not look particularly challenging on paper but an epic batting collapse left them on the brink of defeat. Gurinder Sandhu, batting at No.9, proved to be the hero, scoring 20 not out off 16 deliveries in addition to taking two wickets.

Thunder chose to bowl first after winning the toss and were on top with the ball throughout the innings. Sandhu, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Daniel Sams each picked up two wickets while Nick Larkin was the only batter to score more than 20 runs for the Stars, top-scoring with 25 off 26 deliveries.

^{Beau Webster's late wickets nearly won the match for Melbourne Stars [Mark Nolan/Getty Images]}

Melbourne Stars were not helped by Marcus Stoinis and Joe Burns both testing positive for Covid-19 on the eve of the match, and the latter ultimately retired hurt on 18 (16).

Chasing 123, Thunder fared little better with the bat. Trent Boult, on his Stars debut, picked up two wickets in the first three balls of the innings to remove Matthew Gilkes - after a fine piece of juggling from substitute fielder Brody Couch - and Rilee Rossouw before Nathan Coulter-Nile accounted for Alex Hales to reduce the home side to 28 for 3.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with Coulter-Nile picking up two further wickets and Adam Zampa also striking twice, before two wickets from Beau Webster in the final over looked to have secured two points for the Stars.

Sandhu, however, had other ideas, dispatching a six to level the scores before a bye off the final delivery - both Sandhu and wicketkeeper Joe Clarke were deceived by Webster - ensured it was Thunder who made a winning start to BBL12.

Alex Ross' 28 off 27 balls was the highest individual total of the evening.