Match 25, Sydney, December 29, 2021, 12:35 PM
Brisbane Heat
105/10(19.1ov)
Sydney Sixers
106/8(20.0ov)
Sydney Sixers beat Brisbane Heat by 2 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Sean Abbott
Commentry
Hallelujah then! For being treated to such a wonderful low-scoring thriller. But the BBL is not done for the day yet! At the Docklands, Sam Harper is single-handedly trying to keep Melbourne Renegades in an otherwise one-sided contest against the Hobart Hurricanes. Do switch tabs to catch that game. Until next time, ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
When the going is good, it seems like the whole world is with you. Ask Aaron Finch who can tell tales about winning the T20 World Cup for the rest of his life. And now, ask Sydney Sixers who just cannot seem to do much wrong at the moment. They should have won this match comfortably but ended up escaping from jail. But they will take confidence from this win and look to learn from their mistakes. They next meet the Melbourne Renegades on New Year's Day, at a different venue, Coffs Harbour. The Heat, on the other hand, can take a lot of heart from the second half of the run chase. But they get just one point from this fixture, of the Bash Boost. They too, play on New Year's Day, against the Hobart Hurricanes, at the Bellerive Oval.
SEAN ABBOTT HAS BEEN NAMED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Is anyone surprised? No one will be. On being asked about a possibly botched chase, Abbott says that the deck was tough to bat on and hence the wickets went early, with the batsmen not settling in and playing their shots too early. Admits that both teams made the same mistakes with the bat but he just tried to take the game deep. Agrees that the last over of the match was breathtaking. On his fantastic stunner earlier to dismiss Chris Lynn, Sean smiles and says that Lynn does not give anyone any time to move but he just trusted his reflexes.
We are all talking about Abbott but while batting, you need a partner, right? And poor old Ben Dwarshuis can barely catch a breath. He was involved in that magnificent unbeaten 59-run stand for the 9th wicket with Abbott, which came in just 43 balls. And he made a crucial 23 of those, in just 20 balls, which also had 3 boundaries. But very kind of him to have a quick word. On being asked about the mayhem in the final over, Ben says that the discussion was just to run as fast as one possibly could. Adds that they train for it in the nets. Never knew that, did we?
... THE PRESENTATION ...
About the Heat now. They will be disappointed with their batting but even more so with their bowling. Yes, you do not see games where 105 gets defended in a T20 but when the Sixers were 47/8, needing 59 from 43 balls, surely the game was in the bag? No. That age-old cliche - 'Cricket is a game of uncertainties.' They bowled their heart out but as they say - a job once started needs to be completed. Never leave a job undone. Else, you will be undone. And that exactly is what happened at the SCG here. Please stay tuned for the presentation...
Now, the newly-become father. Honestly, what has come into him since he has returned? 9 wickets in 3 games and 56 runs scored in 2 innings without being dismissed for Sean Abbott! Cloud 9. And Wednesday was his night. First, he ripped the Heat apart with the ball and then did the same with the bat too. His team was making a meal of what seemed like a simple run chase but this bloke just ensured that we have a new leader in the points table.
Let's start with Xavier Bartlett. Just imagine his plight. 4-0-22-2 are his figures. Brilliant. Wouldn't you agree? Now, what if we take you back to the 16th over - 3LB, 4, 6, 4, 0 and 1 - 18 runs came off that over which gave the momentum to the 6ers. In fact, those three balls just changed the complexion totally. The home side was needing 42 from 30 before that over. Bartlett tried his level best to come back hard in the final over but the damage was done, wasn't it? You bet it was.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.... Counting the hair left on my hands. Checking my finger nails. Chewed quite a lot you see. What on earth did we just witness? Thank you, Brisbane Heat, for fighting back the way you did. Is there a way that this one-sided match becomes a contest? We had asked this question during the innings break. Well, this was some away to answer the question!
In over# 20
1
0
0
0
1
0
Xavier Bartlett 22/2(4)
19.6
1
THE SIXERS WIN THE GAME! WHAT A GAME! Thriller, absolute thriller! Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis have done it and taken their team over the line. A full ball, on middle. Sean Abbott comes down the track and clears the in-field between mid on and mid-wicket. The ball goes towards the fence but the batsmen complete the single before that, so just a single will be counted, as only 1 was required.
19.5
.
That's a cracking yorker! A yorker on middle by Xavier Bartlett. Sean Abbott looks to work it away towards the on side but gets the bottom of his blade. The ball just rolls away on the turf. A dot ball! Are we going to see a super over?
19.4
.
Dot ball! Bartlett nails the yorker once again. Sean Abbott manages to flick it off the toe end of the bat towards short mid-wicket. Still the 1 run needed to win with 2 more deliveries left. A test of nerve here.
19.3
.
Good bowling under the pressure from Xavier Bartlett! A yorker, on the pads. Sean Abbott misses his flick and gets hit on the pads. The ball rolls straight to mid-wicket.
19.2
1
Single taken! Scores level! yorker, around off. Sean Abbott jams it out towards mid off and takes a quick single.
19.1
.
Dot Ball! How has that missed the leg stump! A length ball, around the leg stump. Ben Dwarshuis swings across the line and misses. The ball whizzes past the leg pole.
Xavier Bartlett to bowl the last over.
In over# 19
1
4
1
1lb
1
0
Jack Wildermuth 18/2(4)
18.6
1
A length ball, outside off. Ben Dwarshuis slaps it to deep cover for a single. Just two needed now. Surely there is no more twists left in this game!
18.5
4
FOUR! Sydney Sixers are running away! Brisbane Heat show us what have you got now. A length ball, outside off. Ben Dwarshuis cuts it wide of the keeper and away from the short third man for a boundary.
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