Match 56, Melbourne, January 26, 2021, 02:00 PM
Melbourne Stars
177/6(20.0ov)
Sydney Sixers
180/5(19.5ov)
Sydney Sixers beat Melbourne Stars by 5 wickets
Right then. That caps off the group stages of the BBL 10. All the teams fought hard but only 5 teams could make it to the playoffs and now we are nearing the business end of the tournament. The playoffs will begin on Friday, 29th January, 2021 as we get ready for the Eliminator, which will take place between the Brisbane Heat and the Adelaide Strikers at 1915 local (0915 GMT). This is a winner-takes-all clash as the loser of this encounter crashes out of the tournament. We hope to have your company for that game. Until then, stay safe and cheers!
Ben Dwarshuis has been named as the Player of the Match. He says that it was an interesting one coming into the game knowing they needed just a point. Tells they knew Stars would come hard as they needed all 4 points. Ben feels there are some areas to keep improving and hopes they can improve before the Finals. Tells they have a couple of days to celebrate and then they will focus on the Scorchers.
Earlier in the day, the Stars started off with the blade in hand. After a shaky start, the Stars' skipper, Maxwell went into a trance and along with contributions from Cartwright and Maddinson, the Stars ended with a good total of 177. The Sixers lost the plot with the ball towards the end, after having some control at the start. Ben Dwarshuis and Sean Abbott were the pick of the lot, with the ball for the Men in Magenta. In the end, this target was scaled down by the Sixers. Stay tuned as we find out who the Player of the Match is...
Stars got a good start with the ball as they removed the openers of the Sixers fairly quickly, inside the first two overs. But then they let their gas off the pedal and allowed the Sixers to come back into the game. After they lost the Bash Boost point, it was always going to be hard, since they knew that they have no chance of making the playoffs. All of their bowlers were slightly on their expensive side and the Stars could not wrap up their campaign with a win, in the end.
Chasing 178, the Men in Magenta started off poorly as they lost 2 quick wickets but they did well to not let their heads drop. It was then that Vince and Henriques did a good rebuilding job and also got the Bash Boost point to ensure that they finish on the 1st place in the table. After they lost a couple more wickets, Christian and Silk decided that they would stay out there stitched a 77-run stand to see their side home with one ball to spare.
Right, folks. There we have it. The top 5 teams that will qualify for the playoffs of BBL 10 - Sixers, Scorchers, Thunder, Heat and the Strikers. Congratulations to these teams who have battled it hard and have made it to this stage. The Sixers have been lethal in this game too and have done well to finish at the top of the summit and in the process, have also shut down any ideas about the Stars making the playoffs.
In over# 1
4
1
1
6
0
Billy Stanlake 41/1(3.5)
19.5
4
EDGED AND FOUR! That is it! Christian guides his side over the line. Not in the most handsome style but efficient enough to get the job done. Short ball on middle and leg. Christian looks to pull but gets a top edge. It goes over and fine down the leg side. It bounces inside the ropes and goes away. SYDNEY SIXERS WIN BY 5 WICKETS!
19.4
1
Bouncer! It is around off, Silk pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. 2 needed from 2. Super Over anyone?
19.3
1
Full toss, deemed just under the waist height. Christian manages to play it to mid-wicket and gets a single.
19.2
6
SIX! SMASHED! Short but not short enough. It stands well for Christian. He gets on his back foot and smokes his pull over square leg for a biggie.
19.1
.
Dot to begin the final over. Slower ball bowled into the surface. Christian looks to guide it through third man but misses.
Billy Stanlake to bowl the final over. 10 needed off 6 balls. Can Billy keep his nerve?
In over# 1
2
1
2
1
1
4
Sam Rainbird 39/1(4)
18.6
2
Shortish ball around off. Silk pulls it hard and away from deep mid-wicket. Gets two to finish the over. 10 needed off the final over.
18.5
1
Hit hard but again there is protection. Full around off, Christian slams it hard down the ground. There is a man at long off so just a run.
18.4
2
Back of a length delivery on middle. Christian pulls it away from deep mid-wicket and gets a double.
18.3
1
Crushed but just for a run. Good length delivery outside off, Silk slaps it over point and gets a single.
18.2
1
Length ball around off, DC punches it to cover-point for a single.
18.1
4
IN THE AIR AND FOUR! Shortish ball on off, Christian comes down track and looks to pull it over square leg. He gets a top edge which flies away from short fine leg. It bounces before the ropes and goes away for a boundary. A good start to the over.
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