TABLE TOPPERS! Yes, that's Sydney Sixers with 12 points. The Stars have dropped down to 4th but they have pretty much themelves to blame. That ends the action from Boxing Day! Sunday, 27th December, 2020 sees the Brisbane Heat meet the Hobart Hurricanes, at the 'Gabba. The first ball will be bowled at 6.15 pm local (0815 GMT). Do join us then. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
DANIEL HUGHES HAS BEEN NAMED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Hughes says that he was just trying to swing hard and get the ball to the fence. Says that the Sixers felt the pitch was good to bat on and if they kept it to 20 needed from the last 2 overs they could do it. Details that during the innings break, they felt that if the Stars could get 190, so could the Sixers. Admits that they did not bowl well but is happy with the win. Cannot wait for their next game against the Renegades on the 29th of December.
The Sixers will like this win very much. They bossed the first 10 overs of the match and basically nothing much, right till the end. The batsmen played small cameos but importantly, one man stayed till the end. It was the in-form batsman, their skipper, Daniel Hughes, who took the responsibility on his shoulders and got his side home. Unfortunate to miss out on a century but he will take the 96 in a winning cause gladly.
It is not a problem to lose but to stay on top for so long and then lose, gives you a heartbreak. The Stars were excellent with the ball, barring the last few overs, that too, in patches. Maxwell did not have Coulter-Nile at his disposal but could he have gone for Zahir Khan? Ifs and buts...
So let us recount what happened. The Sixers seemed nowhere in the chase, right until the 17th over. They were 151/6, needing 43 from 3 overs. Then came Adam Zampa, went for 20 and the game changed. The Sixers were now the favourites. But then, Maxwell turned to Liam Hatcher, with Coulter-Nile unavailable to bowl. It looked like game over but Hatcher trumped with 2 wickets including the big one of Carlos Brathwaite. So with 20 runs needed in the final over, despite no NCN and a spinner bowling, surely the Stars should have won? Surely. But it didn't happen.
Phew. Let us catch our breath. What was that? How did that get away from the Stars? One bowler not available to bowl and you cannot defend 19 in the last over? Maxwell is furious and should be. The dish was right in his mouth and he was about to bite it before it got snatched away.
SYDNEY SIXERS
194/9 (19.5)
96 (51)
22 (19)
3/33 (4)
2/14 (3)
Over 20
6
4
6
W
4lb
Steve O'Keefe*
0 (1)
Gurinder Sandhu
0 (0)
Glenn Maxwell
1/24 (1.5)
SIX
194/9
4lb
19.5
Glenn Maxwell to Steve O'Keefe ,FOUR LEG BYES! Oh dear. Maxwell nearly pulled it off. He fires a missile, around off, aiming to hit the stumps. O'Keefe swings hard but misses and is hit on the pads. Now, Maxwell starts to appeal but then he realizes that it is too high and outside off! The ball, due to the pace, scoots off the pads and beats short third man! SYDNEY SIXERS WIN BY 1 WICKET AND 1 BALL TO SPARE!
Gurinder Sandhu walks out now.
W
19.4
Glenn Maxwell to Daniel Hughes ,OUT! CAUGHT! This game is not over yet, folks! Maxi gets Hughes. Is that the final nail in the coffin? Full and around off, Hughes gets down and looks to slog sweep. However, he gets more height than distance and finds Hilton Cartwright at deep square leg! Poor Hughes is downcast. So near, yet so far. But what a stunning performance.
6
19.3
Glenn Maxwell to Daniel Hughes ,SIX! Into the crowd! A high full toss, around middle, Hughes swings it miles over mid-wicket. The fielder gets across to his right, dives, tries to take the catch, then realizes that he is going over, tries to parry the ball back in, but cannot! 4 needed from 3 balls now!
4
19.2
Glenn Maxwell to Daniel Hughes ,MISFIELD, FOUR! Inexperience.Full and down the leg side, Hughes slogs it over deep square leg. The fielder comes running in for the catch but misjudges it. He dives forward and poor luck for him, the ball not only lands in front, but scoots off his body behind!
6
19.1
Glenn Maxwell to Daniel Hughes ,SIX! Full and around leg, Hughes backs away and swings it over long on! 14 more needed from 5 balls!
Steve O'Keefe walks in next. Interesting. GLENN MAXWELL to bowl the final over as Nathan Coulter-Nile cannot bowl! He was off the field for a few minutes and has not spent enough time back on! 1-0-10-0 so far for Maxi.
Over 19
1
1
W
1lb
0
W
Ben Dwarshuis*
0 (2)
Daniel Hughes
80 (47)
Liam Hatcher
3/33 (4)
SIX
174/8
W
18.6
Liam Hatcher to Ben Dwarshuis ,OUT! BOWLED! What an over from Hatcher! 2 wickets from it and goes for just 3. A match-winning over. Finishes with 4-0-33-3. Full and straight, Dwarshuis swings hard but misses. The ball doesn't.
0
18.5
Liam Hatcher to Ben Dwarshuis ,Yorker outside off, Ben slashes hard but misses.
1lb
18.4
Liam Hatcher to Daniel Hughes ,Full and down the leg side, Hughes swings hard but gets hit on the pads. Just a leg bye taken.
Ben Dwarshuis walks in now.