The final game of the Big Bash League regular season is here as the Sydney Sixers take on the Sydney Thunder from the Sydney Cricket Ground in the second Sydney derby of the season. Join The Roar from 7:30pm (AEDT) for live scores and a blog of the game.
This game is now going to have a huge bearing on the final makeup of the semi–finals after last nights game between the Melbourne Stars and the Perth Scorchers which the Melbourne Stars won in a thriller behind the brilliant batting of Peter Handscomb.
Of course the Sydney Thunder won’t be affected by any of this because they are now in a position where they are unable to make the final four.
Off the back of that win from the Melbourne Stars the Sydney Sixers now have the slimmest of chances to host a semi–final. However for that to happen they must beat the Thunder by 115 runs or chase down whatever target they are set if batting second in just six overs.
A more realistic possibility would be the Sixers overtaking the Thunder with those equations becoming close to half.
Another reason why this is going to be one the biggest games of the 2014/15 Big Bash season is the fact that it could be Brett Lee’s last game on the SCG and also that it could be Michael Hussey’s last game in Australia.
At the time of writing there were only believed to be a couple of thousand tickets left for the encounter at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which will make for an awesome atmosphere for the game.
In team news for the game the Sydney Thunder should be able to welcome back veteran and captain Mike Hussey for the game against the Sixers pending a final fitness test before the game.
Other players coming into the Thunder squad are Luke Doran, Cameron Delport and Tim Ley. Out of the squad is overseas player Jason Roy. Andrew Mcdonald and Dirk Nannes are both injured for the Thunder’s final game of the season and Scott Henry is the man on standby if Michael Hussey fails to pass his fitness test before the game.
The Sydney Sixers go into the final regular season game with an unchanged squad.
There is almost no doubt that the key players for both sides this evening are their veterans. For the Sixers it’s Brett Lee and for the Thunder it’s Jacques Kallis and if he can get on the field Michael Hussey.
These players have all the experience and as talked about earlier there is extra meaning to this game for both Brett Lee and Michael Hussey, so they will both be incredibly keen to perform and go out on a high note, if it does indeed turn out to be their last game at the SCG and on Australian soil respectively.
Jacques Kallis meanwhile will be aiming to remind everyone that he still has it and just how dangerous he can be.
The Sydney Sixers batted first last time these two teams met and managed to get 180 on the board thanks to consistent scores through their top order. In reply the Thunder were 17 runs short. Dan Hughes and Aiden Blizzard the only reason they ended up getting close to the score posted by the Sixers.
Prediction: With more to play for, expect the Sixers to be able to beat the Thunder quite easily.
Scott Pryde
Expert
How good has the end of the Big Bash regular season been? Incredible stuff from Peter Handscomb last night and now Jordan Silk tonight. That's it from me tonight. Keep it tuned for the Roar for everything sport including the One Day International between Australia and England tomorrow. I'll be back on Saturday with the Tour Down Under and the first Big Bash Semi Final between the Strikers and the Sixers. Be sure to join me then for that! Goodnight!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well the Big Bash Semi Finals are now locked in: Saturday Night - Adelaide Strikers (1) vs Sydney Sixers (4) @ Adelaide Oval Sunday Night - Perth Scorchers (2) vs Melbourne Stars (3) @ The Furnace (WACA)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Jordan Silk ended up with 69 not out from 43 deliveries with 1 four and 5 sixes. For this effort he has been named man of the match. He also took that incredible catch earlier tonight.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The Thunder started the game in awesome fashion and like the Scorchers last night held the ascendancy for even longer than 3 quarters. In fact until the last overs they looked all over it. Kallis and Blizzard batted brilliantly before their spinners really restricted the Thunder along with Josh Lalor who had 4/6 off 3 overs. The Sixers spinners also bowled exceptionally during the Thunders innings.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well where do we start with that? Jordan Silk was incredible! The Sixers needed 56 from the last 3 overs and they somehow managed to get them. Silk seemed to hit everything he looked at in the last 3 overs and O'Keefe was brilliant as well to keep his composure on the last few balls. Gotta feel sorry for Josh Lalor as well.
Mark
Guest
Oh get stuffed
Scott Pryde
Expert
Guard of honour now built for Brett Lee.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FOUR - INCREDIBLE!!! 2 nights in a row. Lalor drops it too short and O'Keefe is able to free the arms and beat the man desperately coming around to get it away for a boundary!!! Sixers 6/155 (20)
Scott Pryde
Expert
FOUR - Okeefe gets a wide half volley and O'keefe just gets it over third man for a boundary. Sixers 6/151 (19.5)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Better ball from Lalor as Silk gets a single to short fine leg. Sixers 6/147 (19.3)
Scott Pryde
Expert
SIX - Now Silk smashes it over mid wicket off a half volley and another six. Sixers 6/144 (19.3)
Scott Pryde
Expert
SIX - Silk chases a wide half volley and smashes it over mid wicket for a maximum. Sixers 6/140 (19.2)
Scott Pryde
Expert
The final over starts with a ball outside off and Silk slog sweeps it to deep mid wicket for 2. Sixers 6/134 (19.1)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Silk gets a single off a well directed Yorker from Tremain before O'Keefe hits it down the ground on the bounce to mid on. The last ball of the over is inside edged to deep square leg for a single. Sixers 6/132 (19) - Sixers need 23 from the final over. Josh Lalor to bowl it.
Scott Pryde
Expert
WICKET - Abbott now tries to smash a half volley down the ground but doesn't get all of it and iscaught near the boundary. Sixers 6/129 (18.3) 26 from 9 balls needed. Steve O'keefe is the new batsman.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FOUR - Chris Tremain now bowls a slower ball and Abbott shuffles across to get inside it and smashes it down to fine leg for a boundary. Sixers 5/129 (18.2)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Chris Tremain back for his final over. Silk gets a single off the first ball to square leg. Can the Sixers get there?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Silk now brings up his 50 from 35 balls with a 2 over point before an inside edge into his pad to short third man. Incredible over with 25 from it. Sixers 5/124 (18) -31 required from 2 overs.
Scott Pryde
Expert
SIX - Now another full ball and Silk slog sweeps over mid wicket for another maximum. Sixers 5/121 (17.4)
Scott Pryde
Expert
FOUR - Now a full ball o off stump and Silk smashes it through the covers for 4. 16 from the last 3 and Silk to 42. Sixers 5/115 (17.3)