10.21 pm The players were supposed to begin play for the final 13 balls right now. But the rain has just gotten much thicker and more covers are being brought out to cover more than just the pitch. Chris Green has walked off the field. The Thunder know their season is over. The umpires have just left the field now as well. Green and Khawaja are being brought together by the umpires to shake hands. Match over with Heat winning by 8 runs on DLS. So they'll advance to play Melbourne Renegades on Sunday, who are the #3 seed. Tomorrow will see the next playoff match (The Qualifier) as the Sydney Sixers travel to play Perth Scorchers on the west coast. The winner goes straight to the final while the loser falls back into a second-chance match against the winner of Sunday's match between the Renegades and Heat ((The Knockout).
Hope all of that makes sense. That's all for today's coverage. Come back tomorrow for live coverage of the Qualifier between the top two teams in the regular season, the Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers. Until then, take care!
10.16 pm Bad news for the Thunder. The rain has suddenly restarted. The ground staff are starting to put the covers back on the pitch again and the stumps have been taken back out of the ground. 10.25 pm is the official cutoff for the game to restart. Only the pitch has been covered, but not the rest of the square. But the rain is getting thicker than a drizzle. The umbrellas are back out. The fat lady is warming up her vocal cords....
10.08 pm Rain has stopped. The umpires are taking the captains on a walk around the outfield to inspect the dampness. The covers are starting to be peeled off too. So we may get a restart before too long from the looks of it. If play restarts now, we'll have a nine-over chase with a revised target of 90. So 38 runs off 13 balls. Nobody would be able to bowl more than two overs as well. So after Neser delivers the next ball when play restarts, both he and Johnson will be bowled out. Restart has been set for 10.21 pm local time. Also, no Power Surge for the Thunder.
9.52 pm Umbrellas are still out for the umpires and players scattered around the boundary and outfield. No sign of play resuming anytime soon.
9.34 pm The umpires have had enough. Rain is far too heavy now and the covers are being hurried onto he field. As it stands, the Heat are marginally head on DLS Par, which is currently 60. If play cannot resume, the Heat will advance in the playoffs and the Thunder will be KO'd.
The rain had stopped briefly but has picked up again and is coming down stronger than the first wave as fans start to leave their seats looking for cover. DLS Par is currently 57. So Thunder are behind.
END OF OVER:6 | 6 Runs | ST: 49/1 (155 runs required from 14 overs, RR: 8.16, RRR: 11.07)
- David Warner36 (19b)
- Jason Sangha6 (9b)
- Mitchell Swepson1-0-5-0
- Matthew Kuhnemann1-0-10-0
Swepson into the attack, spin from both ends. Warner has his helmet off. Swepson starts over the wicket to the lefty.
END OF OVER:5 | 10 Runs | ST: 43/1 (161 runs required from 15 overs, RR: 8.60, RRR: 10.73)
- David Warner31 (15b)
- Jason Sangha6 (7b)
- Matthew Kuhnemann1-0-10-0
- Spencer Johnson2-0-23-0
We've now got an official match, no matter how much more rain falls.
Kuhnemann on for left arm spin. Around the stumps.
END OF OVER:4 | 16 Runs | ST: 33/1 (171 runs required from 16 overs, RR: 8.25, RRR: 10.68)
- David Warner27 (13b)
- Jason Sangha0 (3b)
- Spencer Johnson2-0-23-0
- James Bazley1-0-3-1
Kiran: "Peter, any thoughts on the octogenarian DJ pumping the 80's classics? "Come On Eileen" and "Tainted Love" so far, hoping for more." Disappointed there's no Journey been played yet. "Don't Stop Believin'" seems a perfect fit for the home side at this moment.
