The Sydney Sixers have defeated the Hobart Hurricanes in the 2nd round of BBL04 at Blundstone Arena in Hobart. Chasing the Hurricanes 8/154, the visitors hit the winning runs with 5 balls to spare in a match that was shortened to 19.0 overs due to rain.
Sixers captain Moises Henriques hit an unbeaten 29(25) including the winning runs and claimed 2/22 with the ball in a man of the match performance.
Sydney’s run chase got off to the perfect start as Nic Maddinson laid another solid platform with his second hefty innings in a row. The powerful opener hit 29(12) including 5 powerfully struck boundaries and a huge six. Maddinson was caught hitting out at the straight boundary by Hobart counterpart Tim Dunk.
Dunk did his best opening for the Hurricanes, but was unable to really get going. Hitting 23(18) including 3 boundaries, Dunk was caught by Brett Lee off the bowling of Henriques after mistiming a straight drive.
The Sixers bowlers did a good job against the home side’s batting attack, with only Australian One Day captain George Bailey causing any real trouble. Bailey hit his highest ever T20 score of 71(44) which included six 4’s and three 6’s.
Henriques removed the dangerous Darren Sammy for only 2 runs. Sammy smashed 38 from 12 balls the other day and was caught trying to do the same by Maddinson at long on in the 15th over.
Bailey’s innings allowed the Hurricanes to post an ‘on par’ total but it was always going to be hard to defend against a quality Sixers side.
Maddinson hit 29 of the opening 31 runs with partner Michael Lumb before striking out. Lumb went on to add another 60 runs in with son of South African legend Kepler Wessels, Ricki Wessels.
Wessels provided an interesting batting display with reverse sweeps, ramps and some technically impressive straight driving. His 22(18) combined with Lumb’s 44(31) relieved the pressure on the Sixers middle order.
Henriques and Jordan Silk batted for 9 overs, steadily achieving the target against a frustrated bowling attack. Hobart dropped a number of chances and perhaps due to the greasy conditions, fumbled some close run out opportunities.
The Sydney Sixers join the Adelaide Strikers on top of the table winning both of their opening matches. The Sixers will take on fellow Sydney-siders the Thunder on Boxing Day in what promises to be a cracking match.
Hobart will seek to topple the Strikers on New Years Eve in Adelaide to bounce back from this defeat.
