Unbeaten Sydney Sixers win Champions League
Sydney Sixers Brad Haddin hits a six during their Big Bash League match. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
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The Sydney Sixers have smashed the Highveld Lions by 10 wickets to win the final of the Champions League T20 in Johannesburg.
Led by some inspired captaincy from Brad Haddin and a brilliant effort with the ball, the Sixers totally dominated the game to limit the Lions to 121 and easily chase down that total with 45 balls remaining.
Michael Lumb topscored for Sydney with 82 not out (off 42 balls) to become the leading runscorer for the tournament. He was ably backed up by Haddin in the runchase with the wicketkeeper hitting 37 off 33.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl at the Wanderers ground Haddin unexpectedly opted to open with spin from both ends. And the gamble paid dividends immediately when Gulam Bodi (6 off 3) was dismissed in the first over by offspinner Nathan McCullum to have the South Africans 1-7 early.
From there they slumped to 5-32 off the first seven overs and never recovered despite a spirited knock from Jean Symes (51 off 46).
After a maiden first over that included the wickets of Quinton de Kock and Neil McKenzie, Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the Sixers bowlers with 3-22 off his four overs. He was well supported by McCullum with 3-24 off 4.
Lumb and Haddin started the chase slowly registering just eight off the first three overs and 33 off the opening six. But the Lions total never looked like being enough and the Sixers raced away to claim the win and a $US2.5 million ($A2.43 million) winner’s cheque for their unbeaten efforts in the showpiece tournament.
While the Lions didn’t rise to the occasion, Haddin said his players knew they would.
“That was the sort of performance we have been building to for the past two weeks,” he said.
© AAP 2013
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The Crowd Says (34) | Page 1 of Comments
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October 29th 2012 @ 8:52am
Christo the Daddyo said | October 29th 2012 @ 8:52am | Report comment
Seems like Brad Haddin will have some cause to feel aggrieved if he is left out of the Test team this week…
October 29th 2012 @ 9:24am
Ben from Brisbane said | October 29th 2012 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Yes, because twenty 20 form always translates well into test form :-p. Great win by the sixers though, they were super impressive all tournament.
October 29th 2012 @ 9:30am
jameswm said | October 29th 2012 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Not even that – T20 captaincy equates to test form.
Anyway, top job sixers, apart from one game they dominated everyone. They tried their hardest to lose that semi, with their bowling in the last 5 overs then throwing away 4 wickets with run-outs and unnecessary slogs when they only needed 6-7 an over.
Their bowling has been fantastic, how good is it to see the young quicks Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood working together?
October 29th 2012 @ 10:33am
Matt F said | October 29th 2012 @ 10:33am | Report comment
Unfortunately we won’t see too much more of them all together as Cummins has signed for the Scorchers, though his spot will be filled by Lee so it’s no major loss. That being said, they’re all still with NSW so they’ll have plenty of opportunities to all play together, national team duty aside. I can see them all playing together in the national side soon enough.
October 29th 2012 @ 9:40am
Atawhai Drive said | October 29th 2012 @ 9:40am | Report comment
Wow. Gosh. Hold the back page . . . on second thoughts, don’t bother.
The Sydney Sixers are what, exactly?
October 29th 2012 @ 9:59am
Cicero said | October 29th 2012 @ 9:59am | Report comment
rich!
October 29th 2012 @ 10:44am
kid said | October 29th 2012 @ 10:44am | Report comment
A.D. Love your comment, its a great example of how important fans, free to air tv and media coverage are to sport in general. If no-one cares who wins the sixers may aswell have been a bunch of school kids hitting a pine cone along a dirt path with a stick. But which comes first the fans or the TV. Kerry packer would say TV.
October 29th 2012 @ 11:23am
jameswm said | October 29th 2012 @ 11:23am | Report comment
Guys I was watching some of it. It’s good fun.
My two young boys love the T20 and can develop into test fans from that.
Sorry I don’t begrudge the introduction of T20 cricket.
October 29th 2012 @ 12:46pm
Christo the Daddyo said | October 29th 2012 @ 12:46pm | Report comment
Come on AD – enough with the sarcasm. An Australian cricketing team has just won an international tournament. How about being supportive of this achievement rather than coming up with snarky comments like this.
October 29th 2012 @ 12:53pm
Atawhai Drive said | October 29th 2012 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
Christo, I had no idea that I was under any obligation to support any cricket team, especially a contrived city franchise competing in a sterile and meaningless exercise such as the Champions League. And I’m still grappling with your reference to Brad Haddin.
I will, however, cheer for Australia when the real cricket starts in Brisbane next week.
October 29th 2012 @ 1:33pm
Ben Carter said | October 29th 2012 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
Hi AD – I agree. Nothing wrong with T20 as a form of cricket. I just have zero personal attachment as a fan to any of the revamped BBL teams. Shield, yes. Ryobi Cup, yes. And I too am looking forward to the first Test v SAF. Sure, it’s nice a team based in Australia won a Champions League event centred around cricket. But that’s about it for me at the moment.
October 29th 2012 @ 2:09pm
Don Corleone said | October 29th 2012 @ 2:09pm | Report comment
Congratulations to the Sixers for a great tournament. I had the privilege of watching the team practice at the SCG nets in the week before they left for South Africa and they trained as a very tight and determined unit.
In the end, good preparation and good execution wins cricket matches no matter what the format.
This win has confirmed the status of the Big Bash as a quality tournament. As for the Big Bash critics…you’ve registered your ambivalence or disapproval. It’s duly noted…we’re all very impressed with how ‘traditional’ you all are.
October 29th 2012 @ 3:55pm
Atawhai Drive said | October 29th 2012 @ 3:55pm | Report comment
If you’re impressed then I’m happy, DC.
There’s nothing wrong with T20, aka Entertainment Using Cricket Equipment, or The Monster That Ate Cricket. It can be fun in small doses. But the results scarcely matter. And there’s not much sense in drawing parallels between T20 form and Test cricket potential.
Here’s one for T20 stats freaks:
What is the theoretical maximum score (assuming no variables) that a single batsman can get in a T20 match? By variables I mean no-balls and overthrows.
October 29th 2012 @ 3:59pm
jameswm said | October 29th 2012 @ 3:59pm | Report comment
5 x 6s and a 3 for the first 19 overs, and 6x6s in the 20th over.
So 19×33+36=663
October 29th 2012 @ 8:19pm
Glen said | October 29th 2012 @ 8:19pm | Report comment
The BBL has set the platform for a much more inclusive cricket league in Australia. Yes, everyone was represented under the old state system, but to be honest it was pretty disgraceful that the 6 state capitals had a future monopoly on teams. Canberra, Geelong, Newcastle etc don’t have teams yet (baby steps) but at least their inclusion further down the track is plausible now with a city based format – this will help improve cricket’s following and infrastructure outside metro areas. So while I enjoyed following NSW in the state comps, I’m glad we have now have at least 1 city based tier to complement it.
This summer there will be an average of 15000/20000 attending BBL games and record numbers on TV, not to mention young kids signing up for cricket memberships to go with their winter footy ones. Meanwhile, people will complain about the existence of the BBL and it’s disastrous impact over the course of a couple of months. The same ‘contrived’ argument was used against the A-League’s Sydney FC and Mebourne Victory years ago – those issues aren’t around anymore.
October 29th 2012 @ 8:30pm
Glen said | October 29th 2012 @ 8:30pm | Report comment
Sorry didn’t mean to seem overtly critical – completely respect not having attachments to the new teams and the comparisons with other forms / tiers of cricket. After only 1 season of BBL I think these arguments are important.
Just trying to make a point that others will have an attachment to such teams, and this will only increase over time / particularly if regional teams are admitted who have previously had no representation in national tournaments, and metropolitan ‘derby’ the game gain recognition and importance. This was difficult to achieve under the old framework.
October 29th 2012 @ 8:47pm
Don Corleone said | October 29th 2012 @ 8:47pm | Report comment
Thanks Glen, it’s nice to see a considered, rational comment on the matter. If people want contrived…how about any rugby team based in Melbourne or AFL team based in Qld. The city-based expansion was absolutely necessary, and if people want to follow the Bushrangers, Blues or Redbacks…there’s Ryobi Cup and Shield in what many critics consider to be the superior formats. The BBL will play a significant part in the growth and profile of Australian cricket and contribute to the future existence of test cricket and Sheffield Shield.
October 29th 2012 @ 5:05pm
Atawhai Drive said | October 29th 2012 @ 5:05pm | Report comment
Give that man 10 out of 10 _ or 663 out of 663.
October 29th 2012 @ 10:31am
Matt F said | October 29th 2012 @ 10:31am | Report comment
A practically perfect performance to match an unbeaten tournament. The Sixers were clearly the best side in the tournament. Who knew Michael Lumb could actually bat?
October 29th 2012 @ 10:53am
Atawhai Drive said | October 29th 2012 @ 10:53am | Report comment
Who knew Michael Lumb actually existed?
October 29th 2012 @ 11:05am
Cliff said | October 29th 2012 @ 11:05am | Report comment
I had to wiki him.
October 29th 2012 @ 11:24am
jameswm said | October 29th 2012 @ 11:24am | Report comment
Lumb did well, but with him and Nathan McCullum as our international stars, you’d have a lot of grade players being close to their level. Couldn’t we sign a Gayle or an Ajmal to play for the Sixers?
October 29th 2012 @ 11:27am
Matt F said | October 29th 2012 @ 11:27am | Report comment
Gayle’s with the Thunder. We’ve signed Narine for the next BBL who is top quality and have one more import slot available.
October 29th 2012 @ 4:00pm
jameswm said | October 29th 2012 @ 4:00pm | Report comment
Yeah he’s good Narine. Almost Ajmal. We’ve got bowlers now, a big hitter would be good. Or even Warner locally!
October 29th 2012 @ 4:04pm
Matt F said | October 29th 2012 @ 4:04pm | Report comment
Warner has actually signed for the Sixers next season, though Australia duties mean he’ll probably play about 1 game. Apparently he couldn’t stand the Thunder coach. He must really hate him as he has apparently had to give up his ANZ Stadium deal because of it (that may have just been a rumour though.) Besides he would have only had to put up with him for 1-2 BBL games a season anyway due to national team commitments.
The last import spot should be used on a good batsman.
October 29th 2012 @ 11:25am
DJW said | October 29th 2012 @ 11:25am | Report comment
Lumb is English isn’t he?
October 29th 2012 @ 11:27am
Matt F said | October 29th 2012 @ 11:27am | Report comment
He is. Played a few T20 games for England apparently, though nobody quite knows how or why…
October 29th 2012 @ 11:27am
DJW said | October 29th 2012 @ 11:27am | Report comment
Michael John Lumb (born 12 February 1980)[1] is a South African-born English cricketer
Ha, Is there any other sort of english cricketer these days?
October 29th 2012 @ 2:07pm
Red Kev said | October 29th 2012 @ 2:07pm | Report comment
He did the same thing for them in the BBL last summer didn’t he – smashed a massive innings in the semi or final if I recall correctly. That was the first I’d heard of him.
October 29th 2012 @ 2:16pm
Matt F said | October 29th 2012 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
He actually got dropped for the last few BBL matches last summer because he was so rubbish. I think the only reason he was at the Champions League was because teams could only pick from players who were on the books during the BBL(or IPl or whatever domestic tournament the teams qualified from.) I suppose that’s saving the best until last
October 29th 2012 @ 6:21pm
Red Kev said | October 29th 2012 @ 6:21pm | Report comment
So who am I thinking of then?
Ahh … having looked it up I’m thinking of Luke Wright for the Stars.
October 29th 2012 @ 9:24pm
Arthur Fonzarelli said | October 29th 2012 @ 9:24pm | Report comment
Until the ICB has the same scheduling powers that FIFA does, international cricket will continue to be a meaningless random string of events people dont know about, cant keep track of, and dont care about.
The Sixers won the Champions League !!!! Woo-hoo !!!????
Test cricket, one day cricket, and T20 are all great forms of the game and legitimate in their own right. With proper global leadership and scheduling cricket could mean something 12 months a year. For starters we need the best players playing every form of the game.
October 29th 2012 @ 9:46pm
Don Corleone said | October 29th 2012 @ 9:46pm | Report comment
Arthur, I agree that scheduling for cricket needs serious tweaking…but the Sixer’s achievement deserves recognition. Not only did they win the final of their domestic league but then win a champions league against substantial odds (ie x4 IPL teams skimming the cream of players and Shane Watson being ordered home).Not many Australian domestic teams of any sport can claim that achievement. Dodgy league ‘World’ Club Challenges not included. Credit where credit’s due.
October 29th 2012 @ 11:19pm
Heff said | October 29th 2012 @ 11:19pm | Report comment
Cummins should have been back here playing Shield. Last time he played Tests (against SA mind you) he ripped through them with 6-79 off 29 and made Kallis look like Cullinan against Warne. Oh and he finished off by hitting the winning runs just to make sure we all didn’t forget him.