It was a record-breaking 152 run win for champions Sydney Sixers on the opening night of the Big Bash League (BBL) as they got the better of Melbourne Stars. The encounter played out at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) saw the champions come out on top thanks to complete team performance as Josh Philippe, Moises Henriques, Steve OKeefe and Sean Abbott all contributed with bat and ball. Melbourne were bowled out for just 61 in response to Sydney’s 213.
With 48 thousand fans attending the opening clash, Sydney got off to the best possible start with a 90 run opening stand thanks to James Vince and Josh Philippe. The latter would go on to score 83 off 47 deliveries at a strike rate of 177. Along with captain Henriques, they put up a second-wicket stand of 102 runs. Henriques was running riot with the bat as smashed 76 runs from 38 deliveries which compromised eight fours and three sixes and ended with 213 runs from their 20 overs.
With an asking rate of 10.7 runs per over, the Stars batting was all over the place as Joe Clarke and Nick Larkin both went in the first over. Steve OKeefe was on money right from the word go as he would later go on to dismiss Adam Zampa and Samuel Elliott to end with figures of four for 14. The likes of Glenn Maxwell, Nick Larkin also had a bad day at the office, failing to make an impact and went for four and zero respectively.
Ultimately, it was Sean Abbott and company who made sure only two batters got in double figures. Wicketkeeper Peter Nevill(18) and Hilton Cartwright (10) tried to salvage something from the game as they were bowled out for 61 in just 11.1 overs. This turned out to be the biggest ever win in the history of BBL in terms of runs as Sydney ran out winners by 152 runs. Hayden Kerr and Tom Curran also got three wickets in between them.
Josh Philippe for his well-made 83 off 47 deliveries earned him the ‘Man of the Match’. Next for Sydney will be Hobart Hurricanes at the Aurora Stadium on December 8. Melbourne on the other hand will take on another Sydney-based team as they will face Sydney Thunders at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on December 10.
