The Sydney Sixers romped past Adelaide Strikers in an utterly dominating performance to win the 26th game of the KFC Big Bash League to register their 5th win of the tournament. The Sixers are currently at the top of the table with 21 points looking comfortable to finish in the top three. Despite a brilliant partnership between Jonathan Wells and Jake Weatherald the Strikers could only post 150 on the board and at the end of the day, it didn’t prove to be enough as a solid batting performance from the Sixers saw them overhauling the target with two overs to spare.
Chasing the target of 151, the Sixers got off to a perfect stat courtesy a free-flowing partnership between the opening duo Joshua Philippe and Jack Edwards. The duo shared a 47-run stand in 4.1 overs before the dismissal of Jack Edwards. Philippe’s stroke-filled knock was studded with 5 fours and a six which helped them lay the foundation for the run chase.
Yet again it was Rashid Khan who wrecked the top order by removing Edwards and Philippe in quick time. The run rate came down a bit but it was well within the reach despite the loss of 3 wickets. The 5th wicket partnership proved to be the final nail in the coffin as far as the Strikers were concerned.
James Vince and Jordan Silk shared an unbeaten stand of 71 runs to ensure that they reached the target without any more hiccups. Vince looked in ominous touch from the outset and his unbeaten knock of 45 came in just 33 deliveries including 3 fours and a six while Silk continued his good run in the tournament remaining unbeaten on 38 of 28 deliveries which were laced with 6 classy boundaries.
Earlier in the day, it was Sydney Sixers skipper Daniel Hughes who won the toss and put the Strikers in. They were jolted with two early blows in the first two overs as Ben Dwarshuis and Ben Manenti accounted for Philip Salt and Matt Renshaw in their very first overs. With the score reading 7/2, the Strikers needed to steady the ship before going for the big shots. Alex Carey and Jonathan Wells shared a 64 runs stand but were unable to up the scoring rate.
Carey departed after scoring a run a ball 31 but the Strikers still needed a big finish to post something substantial. Following the wicket of Carey, Wells was joined by Jack Weatherald and the duo shared an unbeaten 79 runs stand but could only get their side to a score of 150 in their allotted 20 overs. Wells struck the ball well but the fall of wickets in the initial phase didn’t really allow them to press on the accelerator.
While Wells scored 66 of 56 deliveries which included 8 fours, Weatherald looked in good touch and eventually remained unbeaten on 34 of 24 deliveries studded with a four and a couple of sixes. Some mighty blows in the final few overs propelled them to a score of 150 but it was always going to be a difficult proposition to defend that total in front of a star-studded Sydney Sixers batting line-up.
To conclude, the Sixers with this win have done a double over the Strikers to take themselves away from the mid-table. While this loss would not affect Strikers much, but they would need to rejig their batting department and make it clear to their top order that they need to stay out there more and provide support to their primary scorer Alex Carey.
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