Kent’s Sam Billings and Wes Agar were beaten in the Australian T20 Big Bash League final on Monday.
It means Spitfires’ T20 Blast skipper Billings has been unable to make it two BBL wins in two years, having been a part of the victorious Brisbane Heat side last winter before making the move to Sydney Thunder for this year’s competition.
Pembury-born wicketkeeper Billings offered 20 from 14 balls in Sydney Thunder’s 182-7 at the Ninja Stadium.
But Hobart Hurricanes made light work of that total as they cruised to 185-3 at the start of the 15th over, led by opening batsman Mitch Owen’s record-breaking 108 off a mere 42 balls.
Right-arm quick bowler Agar (0-39) took the blunt of Owen’s onslaught in his two overs.
One player who did get among the wickets in a losing cause for Thunder was 25-year-old Australian all-rounder Jason Sangha (2-43) – the 2024 overseas professional at Kent League Premier Division side St Lawrence & Highland Court.
Sangha had earlier top-scored with 67 from 42 balls for Thunder as he shared a 97-run opening partnership with controversial Australian opening batsman David Warner.
Billings, 33, has finished the tournament as the seventh-highest run-maker, hitting 271 runs at 30.11 and a strike rate of 132.84.
Kent’s England opening batsman Zak Crawley was dismissed for a golden duck in Sunrisers Eastern Cape’ nine-wicket loss to Joburg Super Kings in the SA20 competition.
He has scored 88 runs in eight games at the competition at an average of 11.
