Sydney Thunder all-rounder Shane Watson showed his class, scoring the first century of the Big Bash Leage 08, but his side were denied a result due to a power outage in Brisbane.
The former Australia all-rounder hit a blistering century for Sydney Thunder, his 62-ball knock against Brisbane Heat featuring eight fours and six sixes. It was Watson’s sixth hundred in T20s, and the first in the eighth edition of the Big Bash League. At 37, he also became the oldest player to hit the three-figure mark in the history of the BBL.
The captain’s heroics powered Thunder to an impressive 186/4 and once the hosts were reduced to 10/2 inside three overs, it seemed like the Sydney-side were on course for a victory.
Unfortunately for Watson and his team, a major power outage in Brisbane led to floodlights failing at the Gabba and play had to be called off.
His innings began fiercely and was near flawless. He began the fireworks with a couple of sixes off Mujeeb ur Rahman in the second over of the innings. He went on to tonk four more sixes in the eventful innings. His knock also featured eight fours.
He brought up his century of the 61st ball he faced, but perished the next ball, holing out to long on off Mujeeb. The knock could’ve been cut short a lot earlier were it not for a dropped catch off debutant Jack Prestwidge’s bowling when he was on just 33. Watson miscued one to the right of cover-point. The fielder Max Bryant got both hands to it, but wasn’t able to hold on.
While unusual circumstances meant that Watson’s innings wasn’t to be a match-winning one, it followed on from his 68 against Adelaide Strikers, signalling a welcome return to form for the Thunder skipper.