Scoring runs can be tough in cricket, but stepping up when the team needs it is vital. Sam Billings of Sydney Thunder tried to do just that against the Perth Scorchers at Sydney, only for his innings to end with Cooper Connolly’s brilliant delivery and an archer-style celebration.
After enduring a three-match losing streak, Perth skipper Ashton Turner won the toss and chose to bowl first at the Sydney Showground. The Sydney Thunder started explosively, with openers Sam Konstas and David Warner blazing their way to 36/0 in just three overs. However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Warner and Matthew Gilkes fell in the fourth over, leaving the Thunder’s innings on shaky ground. Perth’s bowlers was led by spinners Ashton Agar and Cooper Connolly, who capitalised on the favourable pitch conditions. Sam Billings and Konstas struggled to find a rhythm as the Thunder’s scoring rate plummeted thereafter. Billings seemed out of sorts with poor shot selection and his sluggish knock of eight runs off 18 balls finally ended in the ninth over.
Connolly delivered a sharp arm ball on the second delivery of the over which was Billings’ undoing. Attempting a cut, the English batter mistimed the shot and failed to connect cleanly as the ball snuck past his bat and shattered the stumps. A frustrated Billings trudged off the field and marked a forgettable outing. However, Connolly stole the spotlight with his unique celebration. As soon as the stumps were rattled, he thumped his fist and gesticulated an arrow from an imaginary quiver before releasing it like a bowman. The gesture didn’t go unnoticed as Twitter quickly reacted to Connolly’s dramatic “archer” celebration.
That was amazing!
Lol!!!
Pakistan fast bowl doing this celebration ahsan ullah
— Sehrish Faisal (@DrSehrish8531) January 13, 2025
billings is just a parker cricketer with a rich dad
— Teddy (@teddypayne23) January 13, 2025
Peaked here?
Peak big bash
That’s just shit batting— Joe D (@BOYfromAUS) January 13, 2025
Wait what?
why are the boundaries in so far. Are the blokes now playing women’s cricket?
— Steve Balzary (@stevebalzary) January 13, 2025
He is playing for fun ig?
Warner is flop player in Bbl
— Rajesh Beniwal (@BeniwalRajesh1) January 13, 2025
Yupe! It is what it is!
He got that spark!
I like watching Sam Konstas batting. He’s exciting.
— STOhappy (@OhappySt) January 13, 2025
