Twitter Reactions: The Daniel-duo guide Sydney Sixers to the top spot in the table

The Sydney Sixers are back to winning ways after their 3-wicket victory over the Brisbane Heat in the 35th encounter of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2020-21. Having elected to field first, the Sixers’ bowlers put up a good show, restricting the Heat for a below-par total of 148. Carlos Brathwaite and Jake Ball were the picks of the bowlers as they shared 7 wickets amongst them, with Brathwaite bagging 4 for 18.

Both Max Bryant and Joe Denly fell cheaply to a similar dismissal off Jackson Bird, holing out to Dan Christian at mid-on. Though Chris Lynn, who slammed seven fours and a six in his 56-run knock, looked in his zone, Joe Burns labored his way through to 7 from 12 before he edged Brathwaite behind the wickets to leave Heat 3 for 43. It was the 51-run stand for the fourth wicket between Lynn and Jimmy Peirson, which steadied the Heat’s innings.

The bowlers from Sixers were extremely disciplined and ensured not to give any free-scoring opportunities, and barring Lynn and Lewis Gregory, no other batsmen could find themselves at ease. 13 and 19 from the Power Surge-overs provided some cushion to Heat, and even though they lost Peirson (16 from 18) in the same period, Lewis Gregory’s (26 from 15) cameo followed by Lynn’s half-century guided them to 148 all out.

Daniel-duo rescue Sydney Sixers

Josh Phillippe continued with his patchy form, and despite being given a life, he managed only 7 from 8 before depositing a short ball from Jack Wildermuth to Lewis Gregory at midwicket. Despite bagging regular wickets, the underwhelming target made things difficult for the Heat’s bowlers, where Jack Wildermuth, Mujeeb ur Rahman, and James Bazley bagged two apiece, whereas Mark Steketee got a solitary wicket.

After few early jolts from Wildermuth, who pinned Jack Edwards LBW for 10, and Mujeeb ur Rahaman, who got James Vince caught by Bryant at midwicket and followed it by knocking over Jordan Silk just for 3, both the Daniels: Christian and Hughes came to the rescue of the team. While skipper Hughes thwacked 6 boundaries in his 35-ball knock of 51, Christian slammed 5 sixes and 3 boundaries in his quick-fire 61 from 38.

A slight period of sluggishness in their 72-run stand was during the start, however, the Power Surge vented off the entire pressure as both the batsmen opened their arms freely, collecting as many as 37 runs from the two overs combined. The stand was broken by Bazley, who got Hughes dismissed soon after he completed his half-century.

Sixers lost a couple of wickets soon as Brathwaite and Steve O’Keefe fell in quick succession, however, Christian ensured to hold his end up until the very end. Needing 11 from the last 6, he deposited Bartlett for a six on the very first ball. A couple of dot balls added to the drama, although a couple of doubles followed by a boundary on the last ball ensured that the Sixers victory by 3 wickets and reclaim the top spot of the table.

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