BBL 2016/17, Match 11, Review: Strikers give a stick to Sydney Sixers

Adelaide Strikers, with the help of a collective bowling effort from as many as seven bowlers, triggered a great collapse to restrict the Sydney Sixers to just 104 runs in their home venue, Adelaide on the final day of the year and register a fabulous 48 runs win.

There was remarkable bowling display from both the teams. Sean Abbott, the right arm fast bowler, earlier snapped five for 16, the second best figures in BBL history, to help Sixers gain an upper hand in the match. However, the Sixers’ batsman failed to match the level of intent Abbott showed alone and ended up on a losing side.

After setting a functional total of 152/9 batting first, the hosts looked out of context initially. The Sixer kicked off the chase on a fluent note racing to 0 for 34 in just four overs. It seemed that the batting side won’t be facing much trouble and the chase will be dead and buried in no time.

However, tides soon turned and the Strikers’ began to sink the moment Ben Laughlin snapped the hard-hitting Jason Roy. They then went on to lose 5 wickets for just 12 runs in 27 deliveries. This ugly slump threw the out of the contest as the Strikers bowlers gave no opportunity of reviving the innings.

The Strikers executed their plans very well, mixing their pace and bowling to their fields but it was their catching that to quality. It was wicket galore. A wicket fell in an over till the halfway stage of the game as things kept getting worse and worse. Post the departure of Roy, Hughes, in the 6th over, hit one straight to Hodge at mid-on off Chris Jordan’s bowling. The next three overs saw Nic Maddinson, Brad Haddin, and Moises Henriques marching back to the pavilion one after another.

Botha and Abbott, the lower middle order men, also fell in no time. The game was all but over for the Sixers. Whatever, little hope was there in the form of Englishman Sam Billings, who accumulated runs bit comfortability, was over after he fell victim to a brilliant reflex fielding effort which saw Jordon pluck a catch out of thin air during his own bowling in the 17th over. His carefree 30 ball 40 runs knock was the sole reason why the Sixers scoreboard was moving.

Earlier, Abbott produced a wonderful performance which eventually earned him the man of the award. After putting the home side to bat, the bowling attack led by Abbott were able to keep the aggression from the likes of Brad Hodge (36 from 39 balls), Ben Dunk (37 from 20 balls) and Kieron Pollard (29 from 20 balls) under control to restrict them for a score that was chase-able. It was an inconsistent performance from the Strikers but eventually turned out to be more than enough to win.

Adelaide Strikers: 152/9 in 20 overs (Ben Dunk 37; Sean Abbott 5/16)

Sydney Sixers: 104 in 18.2 overs (Sam Billings 40; Billy Stanlake 3/17)

Man of the Match: Sean Abbott

Here’s the stunning reflex catch by Chris Jordon that ended Sam Billing’s innings