Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder: BBL 25th Match Review

Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder: BBL 25th Match Quick Look

The Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder went head-to-head in a nail-biting match at Adelaide Oval on January 6, 2026. It was a real barnburner! The Strikers squeezed out a win by just six runs. Jamie Overton played out of his skin and snagged Player of the Match. It was a cracking game with some big hitting, good bowling, and smarts from the captains.

Toss and What it was Like Out There

Thunder won the toss and sent the Strikers in to bat first. The scene at Adelaide Oval was perfect: clear skies, a nice breeze, and a pitch with good bounce. The grass was quick, so any decent shot sped off for four. But everyone thought the dew later on would help the team batting second… which made things interesting.

How the Strikers Batted

The Adelaide Strikers came out swinging, looking to put up a good score. Chris Lynn, who’s known for belting the ball, opened with Matthew Short, the Strikers’ skipper. Lynn smashed a quick 15 off six balls (two fours and a six!), but Short got out early for four, caught off David Willey’s bowling. With Short out, the middle order felt the squeeze, but Mackenzie Harvey played steady, scoring 38 off 34 balls, hitting six fours.

Jason Sangha backed up Harvey nicely, scoring 31 off 23 balls – he played aggressively but didn’t throw his wicket away. They put on a 50-plus run partnership, which steadied things after those early wickets. Later on, Liam Scott really shone, finishing with 49 not out off 32 balls, smacking seven fours and maintaining a crazy strike rate.

Jamie Overton chipped in with both bat and ball, scoring 13 off 11, and helping the Strikers pile on runs at the end. Harry Manenti, Jerrssis Wadia, and Luke Wood added some useful runs down the order. The Strikers ended up with 165/8 after 20 overs, a good score considering the conditions and how good the Thunder’s attack was.

Thunder’s Bowling

The Sydney Thunder bowlers had an up-and-down day. Wes Agar was great, bowling with good control and picking up three wickets for just 16 runs in his four overs; he was their best bowler by far. Luke Wood and David Willey had a tough time keeping the Strikers’ batsmen quiet, going for 37 and 38 runs in their four overs. Nathan McAndrew bowled three overs for 32 without taking a wicket, while Tanveer Sangha and Chris Green kept things tight but couldn’t snag any wickets.

Even though it was tough going, the Thunder bowlers grabbed some important wickets, but the Strikers’ lower-order runs meant they still set a total that would test the Thunder in the chase. Jamie Overton getting Matthew Gilkes out, and then David Warner later on, were big moments that swung things Adelaide’s way.

Thunder’s Turn to Bat

Chasing 166, the Sydney Thunder came out firing, with Matthew Gilkes and David Warner leading the charge. Gilkes hit 43 off 33 balls, and Warner played a brilliant innings of 67 not out from 51 balls, with seven fours and a six. They put together a good partnership to keep the Thunder in the game, but the Strikers’ aggressive field settings and tight bowling made it hard work.

The Thunder kept losing wickets, with Sam Billings, Sam Konstas, and Nic Maddinson not able to stick around and help Warner. Jamie Overton’s bowling was top-notch, picking up three key wickets for 25 runs in four overs. Lloyd Pope grabbed two important wickets for the Strikers, getting rid of Daniel Sams and David Willey, which slowed the Thunder down even more.

The pressure of chasing a big score in a T20 got to the Thunder, and they struggled to keep up with the run rate during the middle overs. The Strikers’ disciplined bowling was on top. Even with David Warner’s great effort, Sydney Thunder fell short by six runs, finishing at 159/7 after their 20 overs.

Stars of the Show

Jamie Overton had a blinder, contributing with both bat and ball. His all-round performance (13 runs off 11 balls and three wickets for 25 runs) got him the Player of the Match award. Overton’s bowling at the end was key in stopping the Thunder and getting the Strikers the win. Liam Scott’s unbeaten 49 off 32 balls was also massive in setting a tough target for the Thunder.

For the Thunder, David Warner was the star, scoring 67 not out off 51 balls. His partnership with Matthew Gilkes was the best part of the Thunder’s innings, and even though they didn’t win, it showed he can perform under pressure. Wes Agar’s three wickets for the Thunder were also worth a mention.

How the Game Swung

This match was a perfect example of how T20 cricket can change in a heartbeat. The early wickets of Matthew Short and Chris Lynn put the Strikers under pressure, but Harvey and Sangha dug them out of a hole. Liam Scott’s quick runs at the end pushed the total up to 165.

When the Thunder were batting, the over from Jamie Overton where he got Nic Maddinson and David Willey out was the game changer. Those wickets stopped Warner from finding a good partner and tipped the game in the Strikers’ favor.

Game Plan

The Adelaide Strikers’ idea of batting first under lights paid off, letting them set a target while the pitch was still good. Putting Liam Scott up the order and relying on Overton’s all-round skills showed they can adapt to different situations. The Sydney Thunder, while keen to chase, were hurt by not having consistent partnerships and by the Strikers’ tight bowling.

Using pace bowlers like Overton and Pope at the end to keep the scoring down was a smart move. The Thunder relying so much on Warner for runs showed the danger of having one main player in a chase without enough support from the others.

What it Means

With this win, the Adelaide Strikers got two points and moved up the BBL table. The Sydney Thunder stayed on two points from their previous wins, but their net run rate took a hit because of the close loss. This match showed how competitive the league is, where small things can make a big difference to where you stand and whether you reach the playoffs.

The Adelaide Strikers have got some momentum now, showing they can defend a total when the pressure’s on. For the Sydney Thunder, they need to sort out their middle order and come up with a better plan to turn individual performances into team wins.

In a Nutshell

The Adelaide Strikers versus Sydney Thunder match was packed with all the thrills you’d expect. Jamie Overton stood out, and the Strikers showed great teamwork . It was a game full of action!

Match Details

The match was held at Adelaide Oval on the 6th of January 2026 as part of the Big Bash League 2025/26 season. Sydney Thunder elected to field after winning the toss. Umpires for the match were Andrew Crozier and Riki Wessels, with Donovan Koch serving as the TV umpire. Peter George acted as the reserve umpire, and Simon Fry was the match referee. Jamie Overton was named Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round performance. The victory earned Adelaide Strikers two points, while Sydney Thunder remained with no points from this fixture.