by Mike Vimpany

Last ball six-hit hero Eoin Morgan has backed Hampshire skipper James Vince to be a success for Sydney Thunder in Australia’s Big Bash T20 League.

Vince will play in Thunder’s final three BBL matches, starting against Hobart Hurricanes in Tasmania on Sunday, as a replacement for Morgan, who flies to India to skipper England in the forthcoming ODI Series.

“Vincey’s a very classy player, he’s bit more orthodox than me,” Morgan said.

“He’s played at Hampshire for a long time and his England experience in the white-ball form has been brilliant.

“The T20 series he played in the UAE against Pakistan he got man of the series.

“We’ve got quite a strong squad of players at the moment so unfortunately he misses out of the tour to India.”

Vince joined a 20,000-plus crowd at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium and looked on in astonishment as Morgan carried Thunder to a dramatic BBL season-saving win against Kevin Pietersen’s Melbourne Stars in his final appearance of this season’s tournament.

Morgan smashed a last ball six in an unbeaten 71 off 50 balls, as Thunder’s stuttering title defence finally kicked into gear with their first win in five matches.

Chasing the Melbourne Stars’ score of 8-166 - Pietersen hit 60 off 37 balls - Thunder needed 16 from the last over.

Then five off the final delivery from Ben Hilfenhaus, which left-hander Morgan smoked for a straight six.