Guyanese Sherfane Rutherford hit a boundary off the last ball as Sydney Thunder edged Perth Scorchers in a thrilling BBL match overshadowed by a horrible on-field collision involving Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams.
Needing 15 runs off the last over to chase down 178, Rutherford blasted veteran seamer Andrew Tye for three boundaries including a thick inside edge that raced past short fine-leg for the winning runs.
He finished 39 not out from 19 balls and had help from debutant Hugh Weibgen, who came on as a concussion substitute.
After being sent in on a batting-friendly Optus Stadium, Scorchers were ignited by a second consecutive half-century from opener Finn Allen.
But their innings in the 16th over was halted by 20 minutes after Bancroft and Sams collided in the outfield trying to get to a catch. Both players were concussed and sent to hospital, but conscious and talking.
The crowd of 46,471 is Scorchers’ highest ever home attendance during the regular season.
Warner stars at the start, Rutherford at the close
With Bancroft sidelined, Thunder’s hopes largely rested on skipper David Warner, who was fresh off his 86 not out against Melbourne Renegades.
He mixed inventiveness and power to help Thunder keep pace. Just before the drinks break, Warner sensed his move against legspinner Matthew Spoors, who was playing in his second BBL game.
After reverse-sweeping him for a boundary, Warner was pinned on the pad by a quick delivery from Spoors, who mimics his bowling action on Rashid Khan.
The lbw appeal was turned down, but Scorchers reviewed and Warner started to walk off the ground.
But ball tracking had the ball clipping the top of the leg stump and the decision stood, and Warner had to scurry back. He seemed intent to cash in before holing out, but Thunder received a lift in the back-end from Rutherford.
Weibgen had a tough initiation in his BBL debut but smashed a huge six off quick Jason Behrendorff in the penultimate over to leave Thunder needing 15 runs off the last over.
Rutherford stepped up and his winning blow triggered scenes of celebration from Thunder on the sidelines with Warner jumping for joy.
The horrific Bancroft-Sams collision
Play was halted during Scorchers’ innings after Bancroft and Sams clashed heads when they both tried to take an outfield catch to dismiss Cooper Connolly.
Sams appeared to be knocked out cold and had to be stretchered off in a mini-ambulance, while Bancroft walked off with his nose bloodied.
It was a collision that evoked images of Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie in Sri Lanka from 1999.
Bancroft, who plays for Western Australia in domestic cricket, and Sams received a strong ovation from the fans as they left the field. (ESPNcricinfo)
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