Big Bash Daily: Sixers take six-point lead at the top after Sydney smash victory

Josh Philippe starred for Sixers during their rain-affected, five-wicket win over Sydney Thunder

Philippe half-century steers Sixers to victory

Josh Philippe hit 64 of 36 balls as Sydney Sixers defeated local rivals Sydney Thunder by five wickets to take a six-point lead at the top of the table.

Alex Hales was in scintillating form for Thunder, smashing 33 runs off his first 15 deliveries to put his side on course for a 200+ target. However, after losing Usman Khawaja and Callum Ferguson in a four-ball spell, the runs dried up.

Sixers veteran spinner Steve O’Keefe took 3-15, including dismissing Hales for 54, to leave Thunder in trouble on 94-5 with eight overs remaining. However, Daniel Sams struck a well crafted 50 off 37 deliveries as Thunder finished the innings with a competitive 166-6.

Chasing a reduced 129 off 14 overs, Philippe and new opening partner Justin Avendano smashed 50 runs off the first 23 balls to put Sixers firmly in control. A flurry of wickets in the middle overs had the magenta briefly wobbling before Dan Christian hit 15 off five deliveries, including two sixes, to wrestle back control.

Requiring one run from the final 10 deliveries, Philippe was bowled by Sams, leaving Carlos Brathwaite to hit a crunching four to win the match.

A really, really nice shot from Josh Philippe 👌@SixersBBL now needing 22 from 18! #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/6xppa0O8ow

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 13, 2021

Jake Ball yet to find his groove for Sixers

It was a mixed day at the office for Sixers’ bowling attack. O’Keefe (3-15) and Jackson Bird (1-23) were superbly controlled whilst Lloyd Pope’s early spell was integral to stalling Hales’ momentum.

However, Jake Ball had a day to forget. Prior to this match, he had four wickets at 11 in BBL10 and unfortunately, his poor form continued against Thunder.

Taking the ball in the third power play over, the Nottinghamshire seamer was smashed for 21 by Hales, who took no mercy against his fellow Englishman. The 29-year old pulled it back with his second over, going for just eight runs and taking the wicket of Ben Cutting, before conceding 13 in the first over of the power surge to finish with disappointing figures of 1-42.

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Hales briefly leads Golden Bat standings before Philippe knock

Scoring his second half-century of the competition, Hales leapfrogged five players to take the lead of the Golden Bat standings. However, he only had temporary guardianship of the yellow cap and now sits second on the leaderboard with 323 runs, 14 behind Philippe.

However, the England international’s three sixes were enough to earn him top spot for number of maximums hit. Hales has struck 17 sixes in 10 innings in BBL10,  one more than Ben McDermott and two ahead of Dan Christian.

Pwoah, Alex Hales is in a mood tonight! 21 runs from the over if you don't mind 😳 #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/PKc5ZYxhti

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 13, 2021

Tomorrow: Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Renegades

Big Bash action remains in Canberra for tomorrow’s clash between Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Renegades.

Renegades picked up just their second win of BBL10 last Friday (January 8) against Adelaide Strikers and will be looking to close the gap on 7th placed Melbourne Stars. Unfortunately, Mohammad Nabi, who scored a match-winning 74 off 41 balls against Adelaide, has left the BBL for international duty, depriving Renegades of a star player at the business end of the competition.

Brisbane have also lost a key overseas player in star spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, but Morne Morkel could be available to bolster their bowling attack.