Jos Buttler made his third half-century in four Big Bash innings but Joe Root failed again as Sydney Thunder beat Perth Scorchers. Buttler scored 55 off 54 balls in the Thunder’s thrilling one-run win in Sydney.
But while the wicketkeeper-batsman tops the list of BBL run scorers this season, his international captain has failed to produce anything like his best form with the bat.
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Root managed only five on Wednesday and now averages 13 in five matches in his first season in Australia’s Twenty20 competition.
The Scorchers managed 141-5 in reply to the Thunder’s 142-6 as Ashton Turner almost saw them home in the final over as part of an unbeaten 87-run stand with Will Bosisto.
Needing 20 off the bowling of Daniel Sams, Turner took the margin to four off the last ball before he could only manage a two down the ground in the Scorchers’ second straight loss.
Earlier, Buttler had struck four fours and a six before he was out hit wicket, moving across his crease but connecting with the off stump with his bat as he attempted to sweep pace bowler Jhye Richardson.
He brought up his 50 with a reverse hit off Nathan Coulter-Nile, and had earlier ramped Richardson for six back over the keeper’s head. “He bowled a couple of good overs at me, I felt like he was going slow and wide. I missed the ball but got the stumps,” Buttler said of the Australian paceman.
“One of my favourite things in practice is trying to do new things and trying to master different shots. “I like to have as many options to call upon as I can, and today I felt like I kept trying things.”
