Twitter Reactions: Sixers open their account by winning the derby

The two sides who kicked off the Big Bash League (BBL)were returning for another face off. Last game, It was Thunder skipper’s thunderous innings that led them to the victory in the first encounter.

The Sixers’ bowlers first brought the side back in the middle overs after the wicket of James Vince and then in the run chase, the assault from Joe Denly was too good for the Thunders.

Sixers won the toss and opted to chase down the target. Thunder had brought England player James Vince into the side who opened with Usman Khawaja. The former looked threatening as he smashed the West Indian Carlos Braithwaite for a six in his first over. Ashes winner Nathan Lyon had made his way in the Sixers’ playing XI but he was treated with disdain by both the openers as they deposited him for a six each.

Khawaja didn’t look as threatening as he was during the last game and his struggle was cut short when Braithwaite pinned him in front of the middle stump. Skipper Watson couldn’t do much as he got out to a Sean Abbott delivery when he dragged the ball on his stumps while attempting a pull. Thunder’s were pegged further when Lyon returned and sent Vince back to the pavilion.

At the half-way mark, the Thunder were scoring run a ball rate. Chris Green was promoted up the order and he didn’t disappoint the side as he batted brilliantly during his 59-run partnership with Arjun Nair who was rotating the strikes. The stand meant that the Thunder were back in the game. Two wickets in the 18th over brought two new batsmen to the crease. Green got run out on 49 which included 3 sixes which came in just 27 balls.

Wicketkeeper Jay Lenton’s late little flurry helped the Thunder’s go past 150 and they eventually finished their innings with 156 in 20 overs.

An over-cautious run-chase

Sixers’ openers started the run chase on a positive note when Joe Denly hit the first ball of the innings for a boundary. Denly looked threatening as he smashed 2 fours and six off Gurinder Sandhu. They completed their 50 in the 6th over of the game.

Thunder spinners Fawad Ahmed and Arjun Nair pulled things back for their team with some disciplined bowling. Ahmed eventually got the breakthrough when his wrong’un rattled the stumps of Denly. He scored 43 of 29 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes.

Daniel Hughes, who was playing with run a ball game, decided to get going along with Nic Maddinson. Both combined for a 58-run stand and put the Sixers’ in a commanding situation in the run chase. Maddison’s wicket in the 17th over made the game exciting. Hughes and skipper Henriques played without the nerves and took the game to the last over.

Sixers’ needed 9 runs to win in the last over and it was Chris Green who had the responsibility of stopping them. Hughes and Henriques kept their nerves and eventually took their side home on the last ball of the over.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the unexpected thrilling match: