BBL6 Game 21 Recap - Sydney Sixers V Melbourne Renegades @ SCG
Sydney Sixers 4/171 (19.3 Overs) Defeated Melbourne Renegades 6/170 (20 Overs)
Sixes on Brink of Finals
The Sydney Sixers won their fourth games of BBL6 as they snuck home in the final over against the Melbourne Renegades at the SCG. The six wicket victory was secured in a tense final over with veteran wicket keeper Brad Haddin holding his nerve to grab the 9 runs required with 3 balls to spare. In pursuit of the Renegades 6/170, the Sixers looked in control for most of the chase, with openers Daniel Hughes (41) and Michael Lumb (31) getting them off to a bright start. Captain Moises Henriques continued their momentum with a bright 30 from 18 balls, before Haddin held his nerve in the final five overs to see the Sixers over the line. The victory sees the Sixers climb to second on the BBL6 table, with 4 wins and 2 losses, ahead of an explosive Sydney smash showdown with the Thunder at the SCG on Sunday. With one more win, the Sixers can ensure a final’s berth, while two more wins and they will go very close to earning a Top 2 spot and a home semi-final. Captain Aaron Finch's 57 for the Renegades wasn't enough as his side slipped to 2-3 and back-to-back losses. The Renegades host the Hurricanes on Sunday in what is now looming as a must win clash.
Even Contributions The Key For Sixers
The Sixers have had some good wins this year, but last night was perhaps their best team win of the season. Their Top 5 batsmen all scored over 25, meaning they had a number of contributors coming into the crunch time of the season. Daniel Hughes continued his excellent form with 41 from 29 balls. I have underestimated Hughes as a T20 player, and you have to say he is doing a fantastic job opening the batting for the Sixers. While in Brisbane it took a while to get himself going, last night he found the boundary at will. Michael Lumb looked in got nick in his first game for BBL6 as he resumed his role at the top of the order for the Sixers. However, I think the two most important players for the Sixers are their vice-captain and captain in Nic Maddinson and Moises Henriques. Maddinson hasn't quite hit his straps, however showed glimpses with his 26 from 17 balls. Maddinson has been a big match player for the Sixers over the years and I wouldn't be surprised if he does it again this year. Moises Henriques rebounded from four straight scores under 25 to hit a classy 30 from 18 balls. With Brad Haddin finding form in the past two games, it gives the Sixers a Top 5 coming good at the right time of the year. The Sixers are the second most successful franchise in T20 history with 1 BBL title, 2 BBL Grand Final appearances and 1 Champions League title. They will fancy their chances of adding to that trophy cabinet with more performances like this.
Faster Men Struggling in BBL6
It’s interesting when you look at the breakdown of figures from the Renegades’ bowlers last night. Let’s firstly have a look at the combined figures of spinners Brad Hogg, Sunil Narine, Tom Cooper, Matt Short and medium pacer Thisara Perera - 14 overs, 4 wickets and 95 runs conceded. That's all four of the Renegades wickets, plus a combined economy rate of just 7 runs per over. Now that isn't entirely surprising when you consider Hogg and Narine are rated in the Top 10 in the world for T20 bowlers. However Cooper and Short appear no more than handy part timers. Then you look at the figures of their explosive faster men and strike bowlers James Pattinson and Chris Tremain - 5.3 overs, 0 wickets and 74 runs conceded. That's the ball game lost in those 5.3 overs. Both Pattinson and Tremain went for more than 10 an over against the Stars, and now more than 12 an over against the Sixers. T20 cricket was meant to be the death of spinners, but it's proved the opposite. Unless you have decent change-ups as a faster bowler, you’re probably going to go around the park on a good batting wicket. Batsmen enjoy the extra pace on the ball and all the edges fly to the boundary. I'm not saying the Renegades should drop Pattinson and Tremain; both have bowled well through various stages of BBL6 and picked up big wickets. However sometimes bowling flat out for 90% of your deliveries simply isn't a formula that is working in this form of cricket, and the stats back it up.
Perera Impresses on Debut
Thisara Perera is a player who can make a difference in the Renegades’ push for a finals spot over the final four games of the season. Perera bowled extremely well and intelligently last night, under pressure, in his first outing for the club. Perera kept the Renegades right in the game until the final over, in a match when they appeared to be heading towards a crushing loss early in the run chase. His intelligent mix of slower balls and cutters stifled the Sixers momentum and gave the Renegades a real chance heading into the final over. Perera finished with 2/26 from his 4 overs in conditions that were really tough for bowlers. With steady rain falling and a wet ball, Perera showed a lot of poise under pressure to keep his head, picking up the big wickets of Michael Lum and Moises Henriques. Perera bowled an outstanding second last over which went for just 5 runs off the bat, as he cramped up both Jordan Silk and Brad Haddin for room. With the Renegades quicks proving expensive, I expect Perera to become one of the Renegades main go-to bowlers, particularly at the death.
Lurker Struggling in 2017
Whatever was put in The Lurker’s water in 2017, it wasn't good, as he slumped to a 6th loss of the New Year. His Renegades couldn't quite pull the game out of the fire as the Lurker dropped to 14-7 overall. It's another mini crisis for The Lurker as he looks to avoid a third straight loss for the first time in BBL6, when the Strikers visit the Stars tonight at the MCG.