Scorchers continue Thunder BBL misery

Veterans Brad Hogg and Simon Katich have inspired the Perth Scorchers to a six-wicket win with four balls remaining over the Sydney Thunder at the WACA Ground.

Left-arm chinaman Hogg led the way with the ball for the Scorchers as they restricted the Thunder to 6-157 off their 20 overs despite an impressive knock of 48 (30 balls) from Eoin Morgan and late order hitting from Jason Floros with 37 from 24 balls.

Hogg, soon to turn 43, claimed 2-20 from his four overs as he repaid the faith from the Scorchers for his selection while dropping left-arm orthodox spin pair Michael Beer and Ashton Agar.

Then 38-year-old Katich batted at No.3 for the Scorchers with a broken finger and played an inspired knock with seven fours and two sixes as he made 75 from 42 balls.

The Scorchers finished on 4-161 with four balls remaining in their innings.

The victory moves the Scorchers to a 2-2 record so far this BBL campaign while the Thunder remain winless after four matches this season, their losing streak now 17 games overall in the competition dating back to 2012.

The Thunder batted first and got off to a flying start with Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan hitting three early boundaries as they raced to 1-40 in the fifth over, but the Scorchers pegged things back from there.

Michael Hussey made just 13 (20 balls) on his return to Perth as a visitor while Eoin Morgan was unluckily run out for 48 (30) as Brad Hogg (2-20) spun his magic for the Scorchers.

Slumping to 6-116 in the 16th over, the Thunder were struggling but Floros’ 36 from 23 balls with three fours and two sixes got the visitors to a defendable mark.

But Katich played a wonderfully controlled innings.

He reached 50 with just his 27th ball faced and he and Mitch Marsh began to make batting look simple in the run chase as the required rate got down to just a run a ball.

Katich fell at 4-147 in the 18th over but the damage was already done.

Marsh (31 not out) and Ashton Turner (3) safely guided the Scorchers to the comfortable win in the final over.

MORE TO COME

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