The Sydney Thunder are through to their second BBL final after claiming victory over rivals the Sydney Sixes in thrilling Challenger clash on Friday night.
Watch every game of the BBL Finals LIVE and ad-break free during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. Watch South Africa vs Pakistan ODI & Test Series LIVE on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
MATCH CENTRE: Sixers vs Thunder scorecard, teams, videos, updates
They’ll now face the Hobart Hurricanes in the decider after snapping their six-game losing streak to the Sixes with a four-wicket win at the SCG.
But the match wasn’t without controversy, with the Thunder before a “messy” run out decision rocked the men in green.
Matt Gilkes was caught short of his ground, but the man at the stumps Sixer Jack Edwards had his head in his hands believing he’d broken the bails before the ball arrived.
Replays showed Edwards did make contact, but the bails did not light up until the ball arrived – so Gilkes had to go.
“So it is almost like his fingers were on top of the stumps and then the first time the bails went off, the ball was breaking the stumps,” Mike Hussey said.
“I think that is the right decision.”
Gilkes was the third “waste” of a wicket, according to Mark Waugh after both David Warner (11 off 9) and Jason Sangha (30 off 19) spooned catches.
Luckily, Sam Billings (42* off 25) and Nathan McAndrew (19* off 7) steered the Thunder home in the 19th over.
Earlier, the Sixers fell apart with a top order collapse – complete with Josh Philippe run out in the “worst possible way”.
Kurtis Patterson (11 off 11) and Jack Edwards (7 off 8) couldn’t get the Sixers off to a flyer – with the latter spooning one to Thunder skipper David Warner.
Josh Philippe, dropped down the order to three after struggling in recent matches – was then run out at the non striker’s end off a dropped catch.
Cricket greats Mike Hussey and Mark Waugh held concerns for the Sixers ability to fight back in the Challenger final, given they are without stars James Vince, Steve Smith and Sean Abbott on international duties.
“It’s a difficult situation for the Sixers,” Hussey said as the Sixers struggled to 3-62 off 10 overs.
“I’m sure they’d love to be more proactive and get going.
“They are a bit light on batting – Vince is gone, Smith is gone… they’ve got some younger players through the middle. They can’t afford to take too much of a risk and get out.
“They’ve got to soak up a bit of pressure.”
But unfortunately for the Sixers, they couldn’t as Tom Andrews nabbed two wickets in three balls – including the prized scalp of skipper Moises Henriques.
Only a 56-run stand between Ben Dwarshuis (30 off 20) and Jordan Silk (43* off 30) lifted the Sixers, with the Thunder set 152 for a spot in the BBL final.
‘ALWAYS SCARED’: Why underdog can defy ugly tale of tape as BBL war of words heats up
TEAMS
Sydney Sixers: Jafer Chohan (England), Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques (c), Hayden Kerr, Ben Manenti, Kurtis Patterson, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Lachlan Shaw, Jordan Silk
Sydney Thunder: David Warner (c), Wes Agar, Tom Andrews, Sam Billings (England), George Garton (England), Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Nathan McAndrew, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Hugh Weibgen
FOLLOW THE ACTION IN OUR LIVE BLOG BELOW. CAN’T SEE IT? CLICK HERE.
Discussion about this post