In his last match before a likely dream Test debut for Australia, Sam Konstas was dismissed for a duck during a BBL match on Saturday night.
The 19-year-old cricket prodigy was the centre of attention during the match between the Sydney Sixers and the Sydney Thunder after he had been promoted to the Test team last week.
The young gun would have been hoping to continue his brilliant form on Saturday night, but it wasn’t to be.
Stepping up to the crease alongside David Warner, Konstas chopped onto his own stumps for a duck.
Cameron Bancroft hit an unbeaten 70 from 52 balls to help the Thunder reach 5-163.
Favoured to return to the Test team a few months ago, Bancroft has been overtaken by both Konstas and Nathan McSweeney this summer with only three scores above 20 in 18 innings before Saturday.
Talented youngster Sam Konstas was dismissed for a duck in a BBL clash
Stepping up to the crease alongside David Warner, Konstas chopped onto his own stumps for a duck
But he looked back in good touch against the Sixers, taking to spinner Joel Davies and peppering the backward-square boundary off Dwarshuis.
His innings helped keep the Thunder’s innings together, as Oliver Davies also banged 47 from 34 for the hosts and hit three straight sixes off Todd Murphy.
Ben Dwarshuis again proved the Sydney Sixers unlikely hero with the bat, coming in late to lead them to a final-ball win over the Thunder.
Chasing 164 for victory, the Sixers looked shot when they needed 47 from the final four overs.
But Jordan Silk (36no from 25) helped them take 17 from a Nathan McAndrew over, before Dwarshius provided the late heroics with 20no from eight balls.
After launching Lockie Ferguson for six from the first ball he faced, the Sixers quick then took charge with 15 needed from Chris Green’s final over.
Green’s first three balls were hard to get away but he was hurt by two straight wides outside off.
Then with seven needed from two balls, Dwarshuis smashed Green over the long-on rope for six, before taking a quick single off the last ball to seal the win.
Ben Dwarshuis again proved the Sydney Sixers unlikely hero with the bat, coming in late to lead them to a final-ball win over the Thunder
It came after Dwarshuis also hit 14no from six on Monday night to help the Sixers beat the Melbourne Renegades.
‘One of the attitudes we have in this team is to win from any position,’ Dwarshuis said.
‘Coming in first ball is something in my role I practice, trying to hit the first one for six. So it was nice to do it tonight, especially against Lockie, one of the world’s best.’
