Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder highlights: Thunder crunch Sixers

Match result:

A fine effort from the Sydney Thunder saw them complete the double over the Sydney Sixers, and give themselves a shot at the semi-finals.

REPORT: WATSON, HUSSEY STEER THUNDER TO WIN

The win was set up from a fine batting performance by Shane Watson who was supported by Mike Hussey with some great hitting by Andre Russell.

The Thunder’s total of 203 was an enormous task and the Sixers gave it a more than decent shot. With a brilliant 70 by Nic Maddinson, the Sixers were on target for a win for quite a while.

When Hussey brought on Chris Green this was the turning point and from then on the Sixers lost wickets consistently.

For mine, the man of the match is Shane Watson for setting up the win, ahead of Green whose bowling stemmed the flow of Sixers runs.

Final score
Sydney Sixers 156 all out
Sydney Thunder 5/202

Match preview:

The two-and-five Sydney Sixers host the three-and-four Sydney Thunder in another round of the Sydney Smash at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Join The Roar for live scores and updates of the game from 6:10pm (AEDT).

The Thunder will be desperate for a win to make the finals for the first ever time and if all the planets in the cosmos form into a conga line, the Sixers are still a chance.

The streets of ol’ Steak and Kidney are awash with magenta, lightning-green, red and black and sky blue as fans have gone crazy over derbies. Not only is the Big Bash League’s Sydney Smash on but the Sydney A-League derby between Sydney FC and Wanderers is on at the same time.

People are criss-crossing the M4, headed for either Moore Park or Parramatta in what should be a great night for Sydney sport. Cricket fans will be keeping an eye on the weather – after a mid-week mini-cyclone the weather has been a bit patchy but my smartphone has a picture of a cloud and a sun, which I take as a good sign.

The Thunder come into the game as slight favourites. They are missing the talented South African superstar Jacques Kallis with injury, replaced by New Zealander Henry Nicholls set for a debut.

Shane Watson, Mike Hussey and Andre Russell will be looking to clear the ropes in a team that bats deep and in all probability should be higher in the table.

The bowling stocks for the Thunder also look solid with Russell and Clint McKay aiming to get among the batsman. The loss of the experienced Kallis will be felt in the bowling ranks but if Watson maintains his recent form the Thunder will be confident of containing the Sixers. Look for a big performance from spinner Fawad Ahmed as well.

The Sixers have had a disappointing season, not living up to their form of previous years. Perhaps losing talisman Brett Lee through retirement has had a bigger effect on them than expected.

The go to man in the batting department is the experienced ex-Aussie keeper Brad Haddin. If he gets going then the Thunder will be under the pump but if contained the Sixers batting hasn’t shown the same panache as years past.

Nic Maddinson will be a welcome return after injury and Sixers will be hoping that Michael Lumb can pull out a big performance for the last home game of the season.

The kingpin of the Sixers bowling line-up is Test spinner Nathan Lyon who will be looking to repeat his destructive performance against Hobart where he bagged five wickets and still missed out on the man of the match award.

The ever-reliable Douggie Bollinger and wily South African Johan Botha are other key players that the Sixers will need to be at their best to grab a victory.

Sentimentalists will be out in force for the last Sydney Cricket Ground appearance of Mike Hussey. The Australian great won’t have his mind on anything else other than leading the Thunder to their first ever finals appearance.

Prediction
A violent thunderstorm before the last Sydney Slam was enough for me to use this as a sign that it would be the Thunder’s turn for a win. This week’s storm seems a good enough reason to predict them again.

Sydney Thunder to win.