Sydney Sixers 160 for 7 (Hughes 34, Abbott 33*, Botha 25, Boland 3-37) beat Melbourne Stars 156 for 8 (Wright 62, Pietersen 39, Dwarshuis 3-25) by three wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Sean Abbott absorbed the pressure and took Sydney Sixers home with an unbeaten 33 off 17 balls © Cricket Australia/Getty Images
In a season where they have been brilliant or dire, Sydney Sixers beat Melbourne Stars by three wickets with an over to spare to seal the third spot in the points table, setting up a semi-final against Brisbane Heat at the Gabba. The Stars made the semi-finals too, at the expense of their cross-town rivals Melbourne Renegades. They will travel to Perth to face the Scorchers on Tuesday.
Luke Wright lived up to his reputation as the man who comes to life on the MCG’s biggest nights with his second successive half-century, but the Stars – missing six first-choice players to injury and international call-ups – fell away after he was dismissed. Chasing 157 for a place in the semi-finals, the Sixers then pulled off an impressive come-from-behind win.
Their top six struggled and it looked like their season was over, but Sean Abbott and Johan Botha picked their targets effectively to add 59 in 28 balls. With the scores level, Botha was caught and bowled by Scott Boland, but it was too little, too late for the Stars. Ben Dwarshius edged the next ball for four to complete the chase.
Stars’ flying start and grand stall
Rob Quiney and Wright both stroked their first balls through the covers for four, and looked set to rack up a huge total. Quiney went after Johan Botha and smote Sean Abbott over long-on for six. After he fell to the final ball of the Powerplay – caught at short fine leg off Moises Henriques’ first over of the tournament – Wright kicked on while Kevin Pietersen accumulated. The England pair put on 71, and on a belting pitch 128 for 1, with five overs left in the innings, looked a very strong position.
Full report to follow
Will Macpherson writes on cricket for the Guardian, ESPNcricinfo and All Out Cricket. @willis_macp
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo