The Sydney Thunder came out swinging in the opening innings of BBL|06. In an electrifying start,Thunder piled the runs on early before opener Patterson played an ill timed sweep straight to O’Keefe, out for 8. Englands T20 captain Eoin Morgan came to the crease and didn’t disappoint smashing three boundaries and a six in quick succession before copping an edge that went straight to Haddin, gone for 26. Thunder were looking comfortable until at one point they had lost 5/15 until promising youngster Ryan Gibson turned up the heat and rescued the Thunders innings, smashing Bollinger for three consecutive fours and ending up being the hero finishing up with 53 from 43 deliveries. After 20 overs, the Thunder finished up 8/159.

Click play to hear all the 1st Innings highlights and analysis from Ian Chappell and Greg Matthews. 

The KFC Big Bash is back and gets underway with reigning champions the Sydney Thunder taking on cross town rivals the Sydney Sixers in the Sydney Smash. The Sydney Sixers have won the toss and elected to bowl first.

In front of what will be a sold out Spotless Stadium, the Thunder go into the match confident after having beaten the Sixers in their last two outings. Left handed batsmen Ben Rohrer has been named captain for the Thunder as Shane Watson recovers from a calf injury. The Thunder will be buoyed with the signing of England’s T20 captain Eoin Morgan and with the return of West Indian Andre Russell. The Sixers have been bolstered in the off season with the return of Daniel Hughes and the signings of Joe Mennie, big hitter Jason Roy and Sam Billings in what’s set to be an electrifying open to BBL06.

Click play to hear Sydney Sixer Sean Abbott ahead of the Sydney Smash

Click play to hear Sydney Thunder’s Director of Cricket Mike Hussey ahead of the Sydney Smash

Sydney Thunder Player Squad: Ben Rohrer (c), Fawad Ahmed, Pat Cummins, Jake Doran, Ryan Gibson, Chris Green, Clint McKay, Eoin Morgan, Kurtis Patterson, Gurinder Sandhu, Andre Russell

Sydney Sixers Player Squad: Moises Henriques (C), Sean Abbott, Sam Billings, Doug Bollinger, Johan Botha, Ben Dwarshuis, Brad Haddin, Daniel Hughes, Joe Mennie, Stephen O’Keefe, Jason Roy