The Sydney Sixers have salvaged their Big Bash League campaign with a composed victory over the Melbourne Renegades, winning by six wickets.
Both teams entered the match under pressure, as their seasons’ hung in the balance.
The ‘Gades were dealt a significant blow before the first ball when star spinner Adam Zampa was ruled out with a neck injury.
For the Sixers, captain Moises Henriques managed to play through a nasty illness which nearly saw him also ruled out of the match.
The Sixers called roofs and won the bat flip sending the Renegades into bat on what was a preferential bowling wicket.
The Renegades made a competitive start with opener Josh Brown laying a strong foundation scoring 43 off 19.
Jake Fraser-McGurk also scored an important 38 off 29 before Player of the Match Sean Abbott took his prized scalp.
On just his second game after being out with a hamstring injury, Abbott finished with the three wickets at an economy of just four including a whopping 14 dot balls.
The Sixers’ attack was well led by their senior bowlers including Jack Edwards, who mixed pace and discipline effectively to restrict scoring opportunities late in the innings.
Edwards also secured two key wickets (Tim Seifert and Oliver Peake) taking him into the lead of the BKT Golden Arm.
The Renegades finished with a competitive total of 165 in a slow outfield that restricted boundaries.
In reply, the Sixers approached the chase with patience and control.
After losing the wickets of openers Hughes (30 off 23) and Philippe (16 off 12), the remaining order settled into the crease.
Pakistani recruit Babar Azam anchored the innings with a composed knock, rotating the strike efficiently and punishing loose deliveries.
He was well supported by the middle order, who kept the scoreboard moving towards target, especially notable was Babar’s important partnership with skipper Moises Henriques that redefined the chase.
Azam finished on an unbeaten 58* off 46 balls, and hit the winning runs alongside a breakout performance by young-gun Joel Davies (34* off 15).
The win further strengthens Sydney’s position in the BBL standings as they continue their campaign in KFC BBL | 15.
Player of the match Sean Abbott reflected on the team’s performance in what was an important win for the team
“I think tonight I feel like it was a bit of a bowler friendly wicket at the top and the Renegades played some nice cricket through the middle.
“But you know the way Joely (Joel Davies) went out there and batted towards the end of steered us home with Babar (Azam), I thought they went about it really well.
“(Davies) has obviously been bowling really well and he’s taken it into the batting tonight.”
