BBL 07, Match 36, Review: Sixers end their season with a resounding victory

Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Stars stood in front of each other at the SCG in what was the bottom of the table clash in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL). Both the teams are already knocked out of the tournament and the bottom position for Stars is also confirmed. While this was the last game of the season for the hosts Sydney, they wanted to end the season on high with a victory. However, they managed to do so courtesy heroics from Nic Maddinson and Joe Denly.

Sixers opted to bowl first after winning the toss and scalped a couple of quick wickets as the openers of the visiting side failed to provide a good start to their team. But what followed next was an absolute carnage with Glenn Maxwell finally finding his mojo in the competition. He pummelled every bowler that came in his way and added a massive 119 runs along with Rob Quiney in almost 10 overs. The partnership was broken by Nathan Lyon by scalping the latter even as Maxi continued to go berserk.

He made a hefty contribution of 84 from just 47 deliveries with 7 fours and four massive maximums before being dismissed in the 17th over. His wicket sucked the momentum out of Stars’ innings as they could only add 28 runs in last three overs eventually ending up on 189/5 after 20 overs.

Carlos Brathwaite was the most successful bowler for Sixers who returned with the figures of 2/31. All the other bowlers were smashed out of the ground by Maxwell who lit up the SCG.

A fantastic chase

In response, Daniel Hughes lost his wicket in the very first over to James Faulkner as the hosts suffered a severe jolt. But then the duo of Denly and Maddinson took the charge of the game and smashed the bowlers brutally. The latter was in the mood to hit the bowlers out of the ground as he scored 61 off only 26 cherries with a whopping nine boundaries and three gigantic sixes. Denly, on the other hand, was playing a perfect knock blending aggression with defence.

In the process, his partner was dismissed after adding 108 runs in just 8.4 overs which had set Sixers for an easy chase. Though the lost wickets of Moises Henriques and Johan Botha thereafter, the opener made sure they were on track by scoring boundaries occasionally. In the ned, they gunned the chase with five wickets to spare in the 18th over with utter comfort. Denly remained unbeaten on 72 off just 45 balls as his knock was studded with 6 fours and 3 sixes.

John Hastings and Evan Gulbis bowled well for Stars but the other bowlers leaked runs in abundance. They have only a solitary victory this season now with only one more match to go. Sixers, however, have ended their campaign with a victory and even though they have climbed to the fourth position after this victory the other teams will overcome them in the upcoming matches.

Brief Scores

Melbourne Stars 189/5 after 20 overs (G Maxwell 84, R Quiney 36; C Brathwaite 2/31)

Sydney Sixers 190/5 after 17.3 overs (J Denly 72, N Maddinson 61; E Gulbis 2/22, J Hastings 2/27)

Result: Sixers won by 5 wickets

Man of the Match: Joe Denly