Sydney Sixers 137 for six (Philippe 43, Dooley 2-19, Shadab 2-32) beat Hobart Hurricanes 131 for 7 (Asif 41, Abbott 2-32) by six runs through DLS methodology
Rain delayed the beginning by an hour and lowered the match to 14 overs per aspect. There had been some eyebrows raised when Sixers captain Moises Henriques elected to bat however it proved a masterstroke.
Defending 138, Sixers’ bowlers relished returning to their favoured SCG as they stymied Hurricanes, who had been by no means actually within the hunt till Asif’s astonishing 41 off 13 balls nearly snatched a outstanding late victory.
Hurricanes had been lifeless and buried, needing 45 off 10 deliveries till Asif had different concepts. He proceeded to smash 22 runs off Hayden Kerr’s subsequent 4 deliveries, with the final being a six off a full toss round waist top that ought to have been known as a no-ball.
Needing 23 off the ultimate over, Hurricanes’ probabilities elevated significantly when fast Naveen-ul-Haq bowled a large on the primary supply after which he was smashed for a boundary by a purple-scorching Asif.
Sixers’ gamers appeared ashen-confronted as their shocked followers sensed an enormous meltdown. But Asif holed out on the subsequent supply to lastly snuff out Hurricanes’ probabilities.
O’Keefe relishes gradual floor
Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe turned 38 earlier within the month, however he hasn’t misplaced his potential to frustrate batters. On an more and more gradual floor, O’Keefe proved an important inclusion, having been omitted towards Scorchers on the tempo-pleasant Optus Stadium.
With canny bowling, O’Keefe put the brakes on Hurricanes’ excessive-octane high-order batters. He snared the important thing wicket of Ben McDermott within the fourth over after which returned within the eighth over at a vital juncture.
Hurricanes’ run charge had lifted to 12 an over as captain Matthew Wade eyed placing the foot down. But he was unable to interrupt the shackles from O’Keefe, who bowled 9 dot balls in his first 11 deliveries.
A annoyed Wade holed out within the subsequent over to spinner Todd Murphy after which kicked his bat as he trudged off in disgust.
Mixed bag for Sixers’ batting line-up
Sixers had been eager to make amends after sloppy batting shows in losses to Strikers and Scorchers.
After a topsy-turvy batting effort towards Hurricanes, Sixers nonetheless haven’t had a batter rating a half-century this season though they reached a aggressive complete as a consequence of robust bookends.
Openers Josh Philippe and Kurtis Patterson lastly fired with a 68-run opening partnership to get Sixers off to a flier. Patterson, who holds a Test common of 144 from two matches, was a revelation final season as an aggressive opener for champions Scorchers.
After returning dwelling to Sydney, Patterson made his first influence this season with a 25-ball 38 to put a powerful platform with Philippe. But their good work was undone after a collapse of 5 for 16 earlier than Kerr hit a useful 32 from 20 balls on the loss of life.
Shadab makes amends after dropping a sitter
Hurricanes had been thrashed early with Wade utilizing 5 totally different bowlers in as many overs in a determined bid for a breakthrough.
Their early woes had been symbolised when spinner Shadab Khan dropped the only of return catches within the fifth over to reprieve Philippe.
The moist ball might have given him an excuse for fumbling the skier however Shadab was eager to make amends.
Shadab did precisely that when he got here again within the eighth over and eliminated Philippe with a gradual and huge supply that was hit straight to lengthy-off. It was gutsy bowling from Shadab, who was all of the sudden on a roll when he dismissed Henriques first ball with a spectacular diving return catch.
It was paying homage to his good caught and bowled dismissal of Scorchers allrounder Aaron Hardie earlier within the week.
Shadab’s efforts sparked a Sixers collapse with left-arm spinner Paddy Dooley, whose unorthodox bowling motion has turned heads, persevering with his breakout season with the wickets of Jordan Silk and Dan Christian.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist primarily based in Perth