Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

James Vince's unbeaten 98 earns Sydney Sixers BBL final at the SCG

Written by 
Published in Cricket
Saturday, 30 January 2021 04:16

Sydney Sixers 1 for 168 (Vince 98*) beat Perth Scorchers 6 for 167 (Inglis 69*) by nine wickets

James Vince's unbeaten 98 enabled defending champions Sydney Sixers to secure a home final in style, which will be staged at the SCG, as they aim to go back-to-back with a crushing nine-wicket victory over Perth Scorchers in Canberra although the Scorchers will get a second chance in the Challenger on next Thursday.

The Scorchers were behind the game early having struggled after batting first - their preferred method - reaching 1 for 11 after three overs on a surface that began with some life but eased beautifully for the Sixers' chase as dew played a part.

Steve O'Keefe was superb with 1 for 20 off his four overs without conceding a boundary. Josh Inglis' 69 off 41 balls, and a fifth-wicket stand of 59 with captain Ashton Turner, gave them something to work with in the field but the Sixers with 0 for 43 after the Powerplay.

Vince, who was missed twice in the field, and Josh Philippe added 92 for the first wicket in less than nine overs to leave the result in little doubt. Vince closed in on a century but after Daniel Hughes blocked three deliveries a wide from AJ Tye denied him the dip at a boundary with boos ringing around the ground.

The Scorchers will hope that their home-ground advantage in Perth in a few days lifts them to a better performance to allow a rematch next Saturday.

Barely putting a foot wrong

The start of the chase promised much in the contest between Philippe and Jhye Richardson, two of the standout players of the tournament, but after Richardson beat the edge first ball it comfortably went Philippe's way as he took 13 off it, including a six over the leg side. Vince joined in during the second over against Jason Behrendorff although in less convincing fashion with an outside edge to third man then a pull that burst through Richardson's hands at short fine leg. But both batsmen were away and the run-rate pressure was eased. Vince was dropped on 23 by Aaron Hardie as he back-tracked from mid-off, following up the left-off with three consecutive boundaries. Against the run of play, Phillippe swept Liam Livingstone to short fine leg but the damage had been done.

The full Vince

Vince went to his half-century with a six off Turner that just evaded long-on and such was the dominance of his strokeplay that the chance for a century - it would have been his second in T20 - loomed into view with the result a foregone conclusion. The innings had been studded with the trademark Vince elegance and he went to 97 with a thumping straight drive off Richardson but then took a single and when Hughes pulled a boundary it led a slightly surreal finish. Hughes blocked and left three deliveries - with Vince seemingly having said just to win the match - before Tye sent down a loopy bouncer with the first delivery of the 18th over that had to be called wide which was followed by some reluctant handshakes.

That'll cost you, Mitch

The lack of DRS has been a continual debate in this edition of the BBL and it was front and centre in this match when Mitchell Marsh was given caught down the leg side against O'Keefe. Marsh wasn't even looking at the umpire after attempting to glance the delivery away and could barely believe it when the finger went up. He screamed his frustration at the crease then as he started to walk away appeared to direct more anger towards the umpire - something that will likely land him with a fine. It is likely there will be a form of review system in place for next season, although it may not be a full DRS with all the bells and whistles. Alex Carey, on Channel Seven commentary for the match, said that was even necessary for obvious howlers although for the Marsh type of dismissal, even though replays suggested a clear gap between bat and ball, Snicko would be required.

Inglis shines

With 37 players selected across the two squads for the tours of New Zealand and South Africa, Inglis can count himself unlucky not to be among the names. After a slow start to this season's BBL he has been prolific since slipping into the middle order, following a superb tournament last year and impressive Sheffield Shield returns for Western Australia, and could easily have gone on either tour. In this innings rebuilding was needed from 2 for 39 when he arrived then later 4 for 85 in the 13th. He paced it well, bringing an early increase in tempo and then quickly helping Turner take 34 off the Power Surge. His fifty came from 34 balls and he managed two further sixes off the last four deliveries he faced. But the easing conditions that helped Inglis flourish played perfectly into the Sixers' hands.

Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo

Read 254 times

Soccer

FIFA donates $50m for Qatar World Cup legacy

FIFA donates $50m for Qatar World Cup legacy

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFIFA launched a $50 million legacy fund for social programmes on We...

Guardiola sorry for self-harm remark after draw

Guardiola sorry for self-harm remark after draw

EmailPrintManchester City boss Pep Guardiola has apologised for suggesting he wanted to hurt himself...

Guardiola's new Man City deal means nothing if stars don't sign extensions, too

Guardiola's new Man City deal means nothing if stars don't sign extensions, too

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsManchester City did the easy part by having manager Pep Guardiola s...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

KD, Beal return as Suns' big 3 leads rout of Lakers

KD, Beal return as Suns' big 3 leads rout of Lakers

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHOENIX -- Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant each scored 23 points and...

Giannis out vs. Heat due to pregame knee issue

Giannis out vs. Heat due to pregame knee issue

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMIAMI -- Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for Tues...

Baseball

Champion Dodgers adding Snell, sources say

Champion Dodgers adding Snell, sources say

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFree agent left-hander Blake Snell and the Los Angeles Dodgers have...

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- A full postseason share for the World Series champion L...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated