Home Cricket Facts Fly-in Warner can’t inspire Thunder while O’Keefe stars as Sixers

Fly-in Warner can’t inspire Thunder while O’Keefe stars as Sixers

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Fly-in Warner can’t inspire Thunder while O’Keefe stars as Sixers


Sydney Sixers 151 for 7 (Philippe 47, Silk 35, McAndrew 2-17) beat Sydney Thunder 132 (Warner 37, O’Keefe 3-13) by 19 runs

David Warner arrived by helicopter at the SCG but was unable to lead the Sydney Thunder to victory as their BBL campaign came to an end as the Sydney Sixers overcame Steven Smith’s first ball duck to stay on course for second place with another brave defense of a low total up front. from a record crowd.

As has become a Sixers trademark, they managed a mediocre winning score with an excellent display with the ball that was sparked by Steve O’Keefe’s double wicket in the first over after Warner and Alex Hales gave him a good start to the Thunder’s chase. O’Keefe would later return to dismiss Warner for what he made a dull 37 a game on a memorable evening in front of 41,027 fans and was named player of the match.

At 44 for 0 after the powerplay, Thunder were on track chasing 152. But Hales was felled by a delivery that barely bounced off O’Keefe’s round arm and then Cameron Bancroft missed one that went through the gate.

On a tricky surface, life became very difficult for Thunder and Warner was left trying to keep the innings together, but seriously stagnated: he had been 15 for 7 early on before finishing 37 for 39.

The Sixers’ seamers used the changes of pace to excellent effect and a key moment came when the dangerous Ollie Davies skied to cover shortly after hitting consecutive boundaries in the first of the power surge with Daniel Sams also falling within the restrictions of fielding.

O’Keefe, who is likely to retire at the end of the season, returned to claim his third wicket when Warner attempted to clear the rope. He will almost certainly appear at the SCG again during the final.

Steve O'Keefe made vital progress

Steve O’Keefe made vital progress•Getty Images and Cricket Australia

Warner and Smith had contrasting but equally showbiz preparations for this game; The latter played tennis yesterday with Novak Djokovic in Melbourne, while Warner today took to the skies to reach the ground from his brother’s wedding.

There was a great sense of disappointment among the crowd when Smith got his first ball and it landed in the hands of deep square leg. It’s not that he owed the Sixers too many runs, though, as he made 407 at 81.40 in his previous six appearances over the past two seasons.

James Vince and Josh Philippe built steadily from there, although only the latter was truly fluid. Vince went down when he crossed a pitch that stayed low from debutant Toby Gray. Moisés Henriques started brightly with two boundaries before reaching mid-on as the Sixers stuttered towards the halfway point.

Legspinner Tanveer Sangha was again very impressive, although his first Philippe wicket came with one of his worst deliveries when he clipped a short delivery to cover. Nathan McAndrew then shaved Jack Edwards’ off-stump.

But Jordan Silk proved his worth with 35 off 29 balls and Ben Dwarshuis cleared the rope in the final over to break the 150 mark. Not for the first time, it was enough for the Sixers.

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