Half-centuries with Alex Hales and Daniel Sams were not enough for the Thunder to suffer a moderate order decline
Sixers Sydney 5 for 132 (Philippe 64, Sams 2-25) beat Thunder Sydney 6 for 166 (Hales 54, Sams 50 *, O’Keefe 3-15) with five wikis (DLS mode)
The Sydney Sixers remained at the top of the table with a convincing win in the first derby of the season against the Sydney Thunder as 24-year-old Josh Philippe half-time ensured they were always ahead in the chase of change with water.
Alex Hales gave Thunder a good start in his 29-ball half-century, but lost their way against Steve O’Keefe, who claimed the best figures for his career for the second time of the season. this, and a very measured -century from Daniel Sams was needed to make sure the guts didn’t fall off completely.
After a heavy shower at innings change, the Sixers were left with a 14-over run and Philippe put them on course by taking 23 off second from Jono Cook. During his innings, he became the top scorer for the season, a tag that changed hands twice in the evening with a brief Hales in pole position.
O’Keefe’s best
Although things had slowed down after a Hales-inspired accusation, the Thunder were in a good position at 2 for 85 in tenth place. That changed in place of three balls as Sam Billings picked up a long time ago and Hales club to a deep midwicket against O’Keefe. It meant that two new bats were in at the halfway point, forcing the Thunder to go into consolidation time and going to hold the Power Surge back for both rounds. last. O’Keefe then sent Alex Ross, lbw missing a sweep, and finished with a 3 for 15 from spells that conceded just one finish and included 12 dot balls. Jackson Bird’s role was also famous; he picked up 1 for 23 in his four-pointers which meant the eight went between him and O’Keefe for just 38.
Philippe looks ready
After a couple of one-figure scores, it was normal service again for Philippe when he launched the Sixers’ run by joining Cook with four fours and six outs. all five deliveries. By the end of the reduced three-over powerplay, he had 31 off 11 balls and the Sixers were 0 for 41. After the six-over mark, he began to lose some of the strike as the chase became a little tighter. but he was able to take up a fifty-24-ball – the fastest stage of a BBL career. Many people want bats at the top of the order for Australia in T20Is but it is becoming difficult to see how much Philippe can refuse. Maybe the series against New Zealand at the end of February?
The last chance fell
The wickets of James Vince and Daniel Hughes in place of five balls gave the Thunder some hope and when Jordan Silk fell to the first delivery of the Power Surge – which was limited to one above – he splashed Sams into the side. the Sixers’ leg required 32 off 23 balls. Two balls later, Dan Christian missed the first delivery into the side of it but Ross couldn’t hold on to his shoulder as he ran back from inside the ring. In the next over from Nathan McAndrew, Christian launched two sixes and the game was over.
Hales starts, Sams ends
It had all looked so promising for the early Thunder as Hales showed his destructive power by taking 21 off the third against Jake Ball who was a player in England who was a substitute. two six-sided. After consolidating shortly after losing to Usman Khawaja and Callum Ferguson, six others, skimming off Lloyd Pope, took him to fifty-29-ball. After the filling was knocked out of the middle order, Sams nourished the intestines to a point where they were able to push hard in the last few strokes even though 24 of the last two – who was a Power Surge – able to control the Sixers. Sams’ regenerative battery form continued with his second half of the season, topped off by a last-ball finish after Carlos Braithwaite ruled three dots in a row in the final one.
Andrew McGlashan is deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo