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England opener James Vince played a match-winning knock for Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2023-24 clash against Melbourne Stars on January 6. Vince anchored the run chase with a 57-ball 79 to take the Sixers to the doorstep of victory at Melbourne Cricket Ground. On the same day, Australia beat Pakistan by eight wickets to complete cleansweep in the Test series. Steve Smith will now be available to play for the Sixers in the ongoing BBL before the Test series against West Indies at home. But Vince does not want to lose his opening spot as Smith returns to the side.
“Maybe Smudge (Smith) can play in the middle-order. Will be great to have him back,” Vince said in the post-match presentation.
Vince lauded the bowlers for restricting Melbourne Stars to 156/4 as Sydney Sixers chased down the target with seven wickets in hand and 11 balls to spare.
“I think the bowlers did a fantastic job. I think restricting them to 155 was a great effort from the bowlers. Was a kind of a wicket where we didn't want the required run rate to get soaring high. 12-13 runs per over at the back end would have been tough,” he said.
He reserved high praise for off-spinner Todd Murphy who conceded just 15 runs from his quota of four overs and picked up the wickets of Beau Webster and skipper Glenn Maxwell.
“He (Murphy) is a top-class bowler. The lengths he hits and the way he found something from the wicket, bowled beautifully along with other bowlers,” he added.
Vince was happy to get some runs under his belt after two single-digit scores. This was Sydney Sixers’ fourth win from eight games which helped them climb to the second spot on the points table.
“Would like to get a few more runs in this competition. It was nice to spend some time in the middle. You want to peak at the back end of the competition. Hopefully we save our best cricket for the back end. We don't play until next Friday, and then we have a game on Sunday, hopefully we have saved our best for the finals,” the 32-year-old said.
Sydney Sixers' next clash is against Sydney Thunder on January 12.
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