SYDNEY Sixers have continued their dominance of the Sydney Smash after taking out a final ball thriller at ENGIE Stadium last night. The magenta men required 15 runs of the final over to pass the set target of 164, and did so off the bat of Ben Dwarshuis as the Thunder proved their own worst enemy.

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Playing in his 100th BBL game, Chris Green bowled a pair of wides in the final over as he pushed the limits of wide-line yorkers. There were worse calamities though, including a pair of dropped catches off Green’s bowling during the Power Play, and a high ball mixup which could only be described as village.

Josh Philippe was the player let off twice early into the run chase; first parried over the boundary by Ollie Davies, and then dropped by a diving Nathan McAndrew. Key man Moises Henrqiues was also given a life when Tanveer Sangha and keeper Sam Billings stood frozen as a sky ball hit the ground.

There were moments of brilliance amid the madness though, including Billings’ runout of James Vince. A quick bit of thinking saw him quickly gather and throw to the non-striker’s end to leave Vince stranded. David Warner also caught Jack Edwards (28 off 18) short with a vintage direct hit on the move.

The Sixers looked in control for much of the chase. They were 0-32 after the Power Play and 2-79 at halfway with experienced pair Henriques (17 off 22) and Jordan Silk (36* off 25) at the crease. Though, the ledger had turned in the Thunder’s favour when Henriques departed in the Power Surge.

At that point, the Sixers still needed 56 off 28 balls, which was quickly cut into as Silk went 6, 4, 4 against McAndrew to end the surge. The Thunder remained in control, defending 30 off the final three overs, 24 off the last two, and eventually 15 at the death. It still wasn’t enough.

Big-hitting allrounder Dwarshuis came in and hit Lockie Ferguson (2-32) for six off his first ball in the 19th over, before dispatching Green over the rope with seven runs left to get. He snatched the result with a single off the final ball, handing the Sixers another win they had no right to contend.

Earlier, the Thunder were sent in to bat and all eyes were on Test squad inclusion Sam Konstas. The youngster only lasted three balls before chopping a Akeal Hosein (2-23) seamer onto his stumps, before fellow opener Warner (17 off 10) was also felled in the Power Play after hitting a six in the same over.

Cameron Bancroft (70* off 52) then took over alongside Davies (47 off 34), who took Todd Murphy for three-consecutive sixes to help bring up the 50 partnership off just 30 balls before drinks. The stance ended on 88 (61) after Davies held out in the deep trying to raise the bat with a maximum.

Sherfane Rutherford and Daniel Sams were both promoted during the Power Surge but fell to Dwarshuis (2-26). At the other end, Bancroft brought up his half-century and produced a late flourish alongside Sam Billings (15* off 10) to round out the 5-163 total.

The result sees the Sixers sit pretty atop the table with a 2-0 record. They’ll next face the Melbourne Stars at home on Boxing Day. Meanwhile, the 1-1 Thunder will look to regroup and go again, also looking forward to a clash against the Stars at Manuka Oval on December 28.

SCORECARD

RESULT: Sixers won by 5 wickets
POTM: Ben Dwarshuis (Sydney Sixers)
BAT FLIP: Sixers won and elected to bowl

Sydney Thunder 5-163 (20)
Cameron Bancroft 70* (52), Oliver Davies 47 (34), David Warner 17 (10)
Akeal Hosein 2-23 (4), Ben Dwarshuis 2-26 (4), Sean Abbott 1-31 (4)

Sydney Sixers 5-164 (20)
Jordan Silk 36* (25), Josh Philippe 35 (27), Jack Edwards 28 (18)
Lockie Ferguson 2-32 (4), Daniel Sams 1-29 (4)

INNINGS BREAKDOWN:

Power Play (1-4):
Thunder: 2-27
Sixers: 0-32

Halfway (10):
Thunder: 2-90
Sixers: 2-79

Power Surge:
Thunder (16-17): 3-121 to 5-131 (2-10)
Sixers (16-17): 3-107 to 4-134 (1-27)

Totals:
Thunder: 5-163 (20)
Sixers: 5-164 (20)

OWEN OPENS HURRICANES’ ACCOUNT WITH MAIDEN TON

MITCHELL Owen’s maiden T20 ton catapulted Hobart Hurricanes to an eight-wicket victory over Perth Scorchers in Saturday’s earlier fixture at Ninja Stadium. With a previous high score of 28, the opener carried his bat to notch 101* (64) and lead the ‘Canes to their first win of the season.

Chasing 156 to beat the Scorchers for the first time since 2013, Hobart did so with just four balls remaining. The target was attainable throughout the innings thanks to Owen’s big hitting, finding the rope nine times and surpassing it with five big blows.

He brought up triple figures and hit the winning runs in the final over, with his side needing just seven from it. With Ben McDermott on strike, Lance Morris gifted Owen the opportunity to ton up with a full toss no ball which was hit for a single. The towering allrounder obliged.

Earlier, Owen set up the successful chase alongside star import Shai Hope (38 off 35). The pair combined for 101 off 76 deliveries before a Jason Behrendorff slower ball undid the West Indian. The home side was cruising home at that point, still needing 23 off 20 with eight wickets in hand.

Having lost opening partner Caleb Jewell with the last ball of the Power Play, Owen was Hobart’s only consistent source of boundaries as Perth turned the screw. He whacked Ashton Agar (0-23) out of the ground to bring up his half-century before drinks as Hope held down the other end.

Behrendorff ended up as the Scorchers’ only wicket taker, claiming 2-21 off his four overs. Recent Test squad addition Jhye Richardson managed 0-33 (4) having opened the show, looking dangerous as he moved the new ball both ways.

While the Hurricanes compiled a level chase, the Scorchers were strangled in the final five overs of their batting innings. Having looked on track to pass the 170-mark, they were held to 3-27 after the Power Surge with just one boundary hit in that time.

A key turning point of the Scorchers’ dig was the needless runout of Josh Inglis (49 off 35). He had compiled a 54-run partnership with skipper Ashton Turner (39 off 28) but an uncharacteristic mixup saw the pair’s brilliant running between the wickets come unstuck.

Riley Meredith was the man to run Inglis out, and he was otherwise brilliant with the ball. The paceman removed Finn Allen off the second ball and sent Cooper Connolly packing in the Power Play, with both wickets credit to outstanding catches from McDermott and Billy Stanlake respectively.

Inglis steadied things after that point alongside Keaton Jennings (35 off 28) in a 58-run stand before combining with Turner. It was tough going after all three batters departed, with Hobart’s death bowling off the arms of Nathan Ellis (1-28) and Chris Jordan (0-29) proving crucial.

Both sides now sit at 1-1 after their opening two games. Perth is next in action tomorrow night with a trip to face Melbourne Renegades at Marvel Stadium. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes take on Adelaide Strikers away from home on December 27.

SCORECARD

RESULT: Hurricanes won by 8 wickets with 4 balls remaining
POTM: Mitchell Owen (Hobart Hurricanes)
BAT FLIP: Hurricanes won the bat flip and elected to bowl

Perth Scorchers 6-155 (20)
Josh Inglis 49 (35), Ashton Turner 39 (28), Keaton Jennings 35 (28)
Riley Meredith 3-27 (4), Nathan Ellis 1-28 (4), Waqar Salamkheil 1-29 (3)

Hobart Hurricanes 2-156 (19.2)
Mitchell Owen 101* (64), Shai Hope 38 (35)
Jason Behrendorff 2-21 (4)

INNINGS BREAKDOWN:

Power Play (1-4):
Scorchers: 2-27
Hurricanes: 1-32

Halfway (10):
Scorchers: 3-82
Hurricanes: 1-79

Power Surge:
Scorchers (14-15): 3-110 to 3-128 (0-18)
Hurricanes (16-17): 1-119 to 2-133 (1-14)

Totals:
Scorchers: 6-155 (20)
Hurricanes: 2-156 (19.2)

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