Big Bash League 2015–16

Tournament Overview

Series Overview

Sydney Thunder claimed their sole Big Bash League title in 2015-16, defeating Melbourne Stars by 3 wickets in a tight final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Kevin Pietersen's 74 had given the Stars a competitive total of 176/9, but Usman Khawaja's 70 paced Thunder's run chase of 181/7 to complete a significant upset. For a franchise that had struggled to find its identity in the BBL's early years, the 2015-16 championship was a watershed moment. The MCG, packed with cricket fans on a Melbourne summer's evening, provided a memorable backdrop for Thunder's first — and to date only — BBL crown.

Key Highlights

• 1Sydney Thunder won their only BBL title — an upset victory over Melbourne Stars at the MCG
• 2Usman Khawaja's 70 anchored Thunder's chase of 177 to reach 181/7 and win by 3 wickets
• 3Kevin Pietersen scored 74 for the Stars, but it wasn't enough to secure victory at the MCG
• 4Thunder's win was a significant moment for the underdog franchise that had previously struggled in the competition
• 5The MCG final attracted a large crowd that witnessed one of the BBL's most competitive deciders

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