Randy Petes on fire in the Big Bash League

What a proud moment for Randwick Petersham Cricket on Friday night when the club’s two young guns, Jason Sangha and Daniel Sams were the stars of the Sydney Thunder win over the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash at Manuka Oval, Canberra. Coming in to bat at 3-59, Sangha put on 40 runs with England Test captain Joe Root before he was joined by club team-mate Sams at 4-99. Together the pair slammed 77 in 44 balls to thrill the crowd and thrash the Stars attack for a final total of 5-181. While Daniel was caught behind in the last over for 34 off 21 balls with one four and 2 sixes, Jason remained 63 not out with 4 fours and 4 sixes off 36. In making a half-century, at 19 years and 104 days, Jason, labelled by Adam Gilchrist as “the next Ricky Ponting” became the youngest to do so in the Big Bash League.

And while rain caused the match to be decided by the Duckworth Lewis method with 8 overs for each team counting, Daniel hit his straps immediately taking a wicket first ball before finishing with 3-5 off 2 overs after having 3-3. Jason joined in with a brilliant outfield catch to dismiss Australian T20 star Marcus Stoinis for 2. Both Jason and Daniel were the ones in the running for Player-of-the Match with Daniel getting the nod in a close call. Ironically, Daniel was Man-of-the Match in the first game last season when he turned in the competition’s best debut performance of 4-14 against Sydney Thunder when a spot wasn’t offered to him and he joined Sydney Sixers–a situation rectified this year. Thunder won by 15 runs.

Jason Sangha with a debut half century for Sydney Thunder

Daniel Sams on fire in his Sydney Thunder debut