The last Big Bash League game of the year will have see the second Sydney derby played out at ANZ Stadium tonight. We’ll have live scores from 7.00pm AEDT.
It would have been difficult to visualise at the start of the tournament, where the Sydney Sixers and the Sydney Thunder find themselves currently in the points table.
The Sixers’ only win in the competition came in their opener against the Thunder before having to endure four successive defeats.
Thunder is the only team this season that has a worse record. Since going down to the Sixers in that derby game, the Thunder have regularly capitulated after the early loss of Chris Gayle and crashed to losses in each of their five games.
Batting has been their nemesis and it was no different couple of games ago – against the Hobat Hurricanes. After a Ricky Ponting half-century led the Hurricanes to 177, the Thunder replied with only 147.
Unsurprisingly, all six top order batsmen made double figures but none managed more than 24. This has been the story of their season.
Then against Brisbane, Thunder were bowled out for 126 with Chris Gayle’s run-a-ball 28 being the top-score.
For Sixers, it has been a lack of strong finishes with the bat. Michael Lumb and Brad Haddin showed form at the top of their order in their previous match-up, adding 57 in less than six overs.
The middle-order barely did justice to this start though, capitulating to 154 in the end, a total their opposition chased down in the final over.
Given how the points table looks, the Thunder seem all but out of the competition. Disappointed as they would be, playing for pride is what they could be looking to do, especially in a derby game and against a team which won its only match against them.
The defending champions Sixers still have an outside chance if they win all their remaining three games – something that should propel them to eight points. They will then need some help from other results but for now, Brad Haddin’s focus needs to be on devising a win-at-all-cost strategy.
We will bring you the live coverage throughout the game from the ANZ Stadium and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
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