Former Australian opening batsman david warner Rolled back the years with a brutal unbeaten century, but his heroics were eclipsed as Hobart Hurricanes completed a record-breaking run chase against Sydney Thunder. BBL|15 Run-fest at ENGIE Stadium.
Warner scored unbeaten 130 runs in 65 balls with the help of 11 fours and nine sixes in an innings which rewrote the record books. This was the highest individual score of BBL|15 and the highest ever score by a Sydney Thunder batsman. Despite such a big innings, Thunder were left empty handed and Hurricanes achieved the difficult target with 13 balls to spare.
David Warner joins the elite T20 century club
Warner’s century was his second in BBL history and his first since 2011, underscoring the rarity of the moment. This innings took him to nine men’s T20 centuries overall, equal to Virat Kohli And Riley Rossouw In the all-time list.
130 not out. 65 balls.
Here’s the best of David Warner’s incredibles #bbl15 Hundred! pic.twitter.com/GperFoc4ye
– KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) 3 January 2026
Only chris gayle with 22 centuries and Babar Azam 11 places above Warner in men’s T20 cricket. Warner’s late onslaught was particularly brutal, conceding 50 runs in his last 15 balls to drag the Thunder to a strong total.
Sydney Thunder scored 205 runs but Hobart Hurricanes refused to blink
Sydney Thunder, who came to bat first, took 4 wickets for 205 runs, in which Warner dominated from beginning to end. Nick Maddinson provided support with a quickfire 30, but it was Warner’s power-hitting that ensured the Thunder crossed the 200-run mark.
David Warner celebrates ‘6-7’ after his trademark leap #bbl15 pic.twitter.com/e3TtlebNBf
– KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) 3 January 2026
At the half stage, the aggregate appeared to be a match-winner, especially given the Thunder’s desperation for points after a difficult start to the season. However, the Hobart Hurricanes had other ideas on the flat surface of Sydney.
Tim Ward and Mitch Owen ended the chase early
Hobart’s reaction was explosive. Openers Tim Ward and Mitch Owen mounted a brilliant counterattack and scored 108 runs without any loss in just 8.2 overs. Ward played a brilliant inning of 90 runs in 49 balls, while Owen scored 45 runs in just 18 balls.
The blown stand effectively broke the back of the chase, forcing the Thunder into defensive mode earlier than expected and turning the contest into a shootout.
Sydney Thunder bounced back briefly through Daniel Sams, who provided a glimmer of hope with figures of 3 for 36. However, that momentum was short-lived as Nikhil Chaudhary remained patient.
Choudhary remained unbeaten on 29 off 14 balls, helping Hobart reach 206 for 4 and record the highest successful run chase ever at Angie Stadium. The win also marked a record BBL chase at the venue.
The defending champions have just completed the record run chase at the ENGIE Stadium #bbl15 pic.twitter.com/gkKm4d6R1a
– KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) 3 January 2026
The win moved the defending champions into the top half of the BBL|15 standings with a 5–2 record and extended their dominance over the Thunder to six consecutive wins. This defeat was sad for Sydney Thunder. They went 1–5 on the season and 0–3 at Angie Stadium, leaving their Finals hopes in limbo.
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