news details |
|
|
| Smith, Haddin take Sixers to big win | | | agencies
Sydney, Dec 8: Reigning Champions League and Big Bash League title holders, the Sydney Sixers can rightfully call themselves the world's most accomplished Twenty20 team. Their polish could not be questioned on this night, as the Sixers vanquished their motley local rivals Sydney Thunder by seven wickets at the SCG. More open to question was the Sixers' crowd-pulling power, for the match was watched by a Sydney audience of 15,279 after most in the team's marketing and membership camps had confidently expected a sell-out, or close to it. This was after all their tournament opener, a local derby, and a balmy Saturday evening with no major competing sport in the city.
In truth, the attendance was an improvement on the 12,285 who turned out for the BBL's inaugural match on this ground a year ago. But the amount of money outlaid on the second edition of the competition - a $10 million loss has reportedly been budgeted for by Cricket Australia - has been spent in the confident hope of greater gatherings than this.
The Sixers' successful chase was guided by the captain Brad Haddin and his deputy Steve Smith. Haddin's 59 began with a six first ball before settling down, while Smith played with the purposeful busyness he has shown for most of the season so far with New South Wales. Nic Maddinson also contributed with a spiky 39 at the top of the order. Ryan Carters was the only Thunder batsman to pass 30, as most of the innings was constricted by Luke Feldman and Mitchell Starc, who claimed 4 for 46 between them. The Thunder will again be heavily reliant on the bludgeoning of Chris Gayle, who will join them in time for game two. David Warner had been the Sixers' big ticket signing in the off-season after he did not enjoy his first season with the Thunder. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
