Daniel Sams pulls off a steal, destroying Lloyd Pope in 31 runs as Sydney Thunder win

32-year-old Australia National Cricket Team and Sydney Thunder all-rounder Daniel Sams put up a brilliant performance with the bat in the third match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2024-25.

Daniel Sams turned on his beast mode to destroy 25-year-old Adelaide Strikers player Lloyd Pope and led his side to an epic win out of nowhere at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Tuesday, December 17.

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Daniel Sams pulls off a steal to help Sydney Thunder secure a stunning win

Batting first in the match, the Adelaide Strikers posted a good total of 182 for 8 on the board. It was a combined batting effort from the strikers as Jake Weatherald (40), Jimmy Overton (45), James Bazley (31) and Alex Ross (22) made good contributions with the bat. For Sydney Thunder, Lockie Ferguson and Chris Green took 3 wickets each while Tanveer Sangha took 2 wickets.

Chasing down the target, teenage batsman Sam Konstas scored the fastest fifty in Sydney Thunder history and became the youngest player ever to score a half-century in the BBL.

After being sent off for 56 minutes, Sam Billings (29) and Oliver Davies (23) made good contributions, but the game was slipping away from David Warner’s side.

Things were looking very tough for the Thunder as at the end of the 18th over they were 149/7 and needed 34 from the last two overs to get the win.

The Adelaide Strikers brought back Lloyd Pope in attack, who had figures of 1/17 after his first three overs. Daniel Sams decided to target the spinner to finish 19th at a great expense.

He smashed two huge balls in a row in the first two balls before bowling the leg-spinner away. Daniel Sams then hit a four at extra cover and followed it up with a six over the square leg fence. He then smashed two fours over the cover zone and straight down the ground to score 31 runs from the over.

In the last over, Sydney Thunder needed 3 runs to win, and despite losing a wicket on the first ball, they crossed the finish line winning by 2 wickets.

Watch: Daniel Sams leads Sydney Thunder to epic win with thrilling strikes

Do yourselves a favor…

Watch this wild end to the cricket match! #bubble14 pic.twitter.com/bo190SOjyO

– KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 17, 2024

31-RUN 19 Crazy from Danielle Sams! 🤯

📺Watch #bubble14 On the class. 501 or stream @kayosportsbit.ly/41GRx9l
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– Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 17, 2024

We’re just being aggressive – Daniel Sams

Speaking after winning the Man of the Match award, Daniel Sams said they want to put in strong, good performances in the first half of the competition as that will help them be in a strong position during the Big Bash League business end.

Sams added that he found Llyod Pope the perfect target to attack in the 19th over and went berserk against the spinner. He explained:

“We’re just being aggressive (finishing the game). If we don’t make the most of it, we’re going to catch up later. And then, once (Bobby) got to the ball in that last second, that was it.” Did this kind of end up removing this thing and fortunately it went better.

“(Scoring 31 runs) it’s something I’ve really worked on a lot. I was just trying to think about the next ball. As obviously in the context of the game, I need to do a lot of runs. I’m just trying to be more focused. On that ball and the next ball and try not to think a lot.”

Read also: Watch: Sam Konstas rewrites history, becoming the youngest player to score fifty goals in the Premier League

Sydney Thunder finished bottom of the table in the last season of the Big Bash League, winning just one game, and Daniel Sams says they are aiming to do well this time around. He explained:

“(The winning start) Yes, we actually have the same team (as last season). It’s those kind of wins especially early in the tournament that go a long way. Being in a position we probably should have been in. And then we’re in a position As it will be difficult to win this ball, getting off the line is really important, something we couldn’t do last year.

“So we’ll get a lot out of this game. (Next game) It’s always fun to play against these boys (Sydney Sixers). Personally, we can keep going with them.”