- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Veteran spinner Steve O’Keefe has enjoyed a triumphant BBL comeback while star batter Josh Philippe returned to form as the Sydney Sixers scored a thumping 60-run win over the Sydney Thunder.
The result at the SCG on Saturday moved the Sixers into second place on the ladder on net run rate above the Thunder, who have played one more game and suffered back-to-back losses.
The Sixers made 5-197 on the back Philippe (57 off 35 balls), Daniel Hughes (66 off 48) and captain Moises Henriques (47 not out off 27) lifting the tempo massively after their side scored a competition low of just eight from their opening four-over power play.
Thunder tallied 28 more in the power play than the Sixers, but 37-year-old O’Keefe (4-18), back after missing two matches with a hand injury, triggered a massive collapse.
He took two wickets in both his first and third overs as the Thunder lost 7-38 before a ninth-wicket stand of 56 salvaged some pride.
Captain Chris Green (50 off 31) scored his first BBL half-century, with the visitors finishing on 9-137.
Alex Hales (23 off 18) got the Thunder off to a rapid start, taking three fours off Sean Abbott in the second over.
But O’Keefe bowled Hales with his first delivery and had Alex Ross caught behind three balls later to alter the momentum.
The left-arm tweaker struck twice more when he had the dangerous Daniel Sams caught at long on and Oliver Davies stumped.
The Thunder slumped to 5-61 in the tenth over and 8-80 in the 13th.
Earlier on Saturday, the Sixers took 28 balls to notch their first boundary but made the most of their chances. Coming off a lean run of three ducks in four innings, Philippe was dropped on nine and made the Thunder pay.
Returning to his strong early season form, Philippe smashed five fours and two sixes, pulling off some well executed ramp shots and big legside hits.
Australian T20 and ODI representative Philippe and Hughes picked up the pace, adding 82 in just under ten overs.
Hughes, who scored just two runs off his first 11 balls, brought up a record fifth half-century in Sydney Smash matches, a fixture in which he has scored more runs than any other player.
Hughes and Henriques kept the pressure on the Thunder’s bowlers, putting on 77 in seven overs.
The Thunder were guilty of sloppy fielding and pacemen Mohammed Hasnain and Sams were left visibly agitated with the former exchanging words with Henriques — when the Sixers captain seemed to cheekily suggest the Pakistan quick was throwing.
Sams and fellow paceman Nathan McAndrew each took two wickets but Hasnain (0-22), who was playing his last match before returning to his homeland, was clearly Thunder’s most economical bowler.
© AAP
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.