The Sydney Thunder’s top order have failed once again with Usman Khawaja playing a lone hand as they set a meagre target of just 133 in their Big Bash derby match with the Sydney Sixers.
The Thunder required an eruption of runs from Khawaja (66no) to reach 6-132 from their 20 overs – a target which looked out of reach when they crumpled to be 4-27 in the seventh over.
The world’s best T20 exponent, Chris Gayle (9), England import Matt Prior (4) and captain Chris Rogers (7) all failed to crack double digits as the Sixers bowlers Luke Feldman (2-23) and Josh Lalor (2-20) did the damage.
The Thunder, on a 10-game losing streak that seems destined to stretch to 11, were carried entirely by Test hopeful Khawaja who started slow but finished with 11 boundaries.
Khawaja brought up his 50, the first by a Thunder player all tournament, with his eighth boundary.
Patience is not a trait normally associated with T20 cricket but without Khawaja the Thunder would’ve flirted with Perth’s score of 69 against Melbourne Stars – the worst total in Australian T20 history.
Khawaja admitted it was difficult to post a competitive total as his regularly watched teammates walking back to the stands.
“It was pretty tough, but it’s Twenty20 so you’ve got to keep going,” he told Fox Sports.
“Every time someone got out there we were just thinking runs. Just keep getting runs.”
Outside of Khawaja only the unheralded pair Simon Keen (15) and Scott Coyte (11no) reached double figures.