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Hughes’ mini-masterclass drives Sixers home
- Updated: January 3, 2017
Sydney Sixers 7 for 191 (Hughes 85) beat Brisbane Heat 6 for 186 (Burns 51*, Peirson 44, Abbott 3-38) by three wicketsScorecard and ball-by-ball details
With just two balls to spare, a top-edged six over the wicketkeeper’s head by Sean Abbott off Ben Cutting saw Sydney Sixers home by three wickets over Brisbane Heat at the Gabba.
It did not seem that it would be so close. Sixers needed three from the final over, but Daniel Hughes, who had batted beautifully, was bowled for 85 by its first ball. A scrambled bye was followed by Abbott’s big swing – by hook or by crook they had made it.
The Heat always seemed a touch under par, with Brendon McCullum and Chris Lynn – who left their fielding effort with a shoulder injury, but will most likely fly to Perth as scheduled for his team’s next game – failing to kick on. After a fast start, Sixers, led by Abbott – who now has 12 wickets, twice as many as any other bowler in the BBL – pulled it back to limit Heat to 6 for 186.
The three stages of Brisbane Heat’s innings
Having been put in (only twice have captains opted to bat first this BBL), the Heat’s innings fell into three distinct sections. They flew out of the blocks, taking 70 for 0 from the Powerplay, with the least-heralded of their powerful top three, Jimmy Peirson, outstripping McCullum with a series of mighty swipes to leg and down the ground.
The next six overs were trickier; Abbott’s introduction did for McCullum and Lynn, while Peirson and Alex Ross fell in consecutive overs. As the ball …
