Sixers clinch 30-run victory against Thunder in rain-hit clash

Hughes, Christain help set up 173 target before Kerr, Pope choke Thunder

Sydney Sixers 4 for 168 (Hughes 50, Christian 41 not out, Sams 2-29) beat Sydney Thunder 142 (Jason Sangha 47, Kerr 3-29, Dwarshuis 2-21) by 30 runs (DLS)

Sydney Sixers won the bragging rights with a 30-run victory over cross-town rival Sydney Thunder in a rain-affected BBL match at the Spotless Stadium.

Rain twice interrupted play during Sixers’ innings to shorten the match to a 16-over per side contest but had little impact on the two-time defending champions, who proved too strong in the ‘Sydney Smash’.

Sixers’ underused middle order powered them to a strong total and then their weakened attack thwarted Thunder in the chase.

Sixers’ middle order dominates
Sixers’ innings was halted in the third over for just seven minutes, but Josh Philippe, the BBL’s leading runscorer, struggled to restart and uncharacteristically fell to a loose shot shortly after the resumption.

As has often been his bane, Vince fell just when he appeared headed for something special, but incoming Moises Henriques smashed a first-ball six off Daniel Sams to signal Sixers’ intentions.

Then Hughes took over with a rapid 25-ball half-century to fuel Sixers’ late surge, where they left Thunder ragged and out of answers. At one point, he smashed four sixes in nine deliveries in his first knock of substance for the season, after mustering just 23 runs in four previous innings.

Thunder were under serious pressure amid Hughes’ avalanche before Mahmood claimed his scalp with an accurate yorker on leg stump. But the Englishman, who might still be hoping for an Ashes call-up, couldn’t finish the job and leaked 17 runs in the penultimate over.

Due to the inclement conditions, Thunder found it difficult to utilise spinners Tanveer Sangha and Chris Green, who combined for 45 runs from 5 overs. They seemingly struggled to grip the ball effectively, which might explain Sangha’s off performance in what had been an impressive season to date for the highly-rated 20-year-old.

Thunder struggled in the death overs as they became increasingly sloppy with the ball and in the field.

Shorthanded Sixers attack impress
There has been much excitement over Pakistani legspinner Shadab Khan’s signing with the injury-hit Sixers, but his season debut has to wait due to rather perplexing Covid-19 rules. Listed as an X-factor, Shadab could only play if he tested negative for Covid-19, and his result was expected by the 10-over mark of the first innings when substitutes need to be made.

But the result wasn’t ready, meaning Shadab had to stay on the sidelines. It loomed as a blow for a depleted Sixers attack without star spinner Steve O’Keefe, and with English imports Chris Jordan and Tom Curran having returned home.

However, a composed Sixers showcased their championship pedigree with breakthroughs at crucial times. They would have been particularly satisfied with youngsters Hayden Kerr and Lloyd Pope, who combined for five wickets to underline Sixers’ bowling depth.

Hales once again fails
Alex Hales, a dynamo during previous BBL seasons, has started slow with just 87 runs from five innings before Sunday. If Thunder were to haul down the revised target of 173, they needed Hales to rediscover his best, but he struggled to get the strike early.

He finally made his move in the fourth over with consecutive sixes off Sean Abbott only to then hole out chasing a third straight blow over the rope.

Late hitting from Sams provided some cheers for the home fans, but the disciplined Sixers never lost their cool.