The Sydney Sixers have kickstarted their BBL|13 campaign with a commanding 47-run victory over cross-town rivals the Sydney Thunder at ENGIE Stadium, powered by a return to form from superstar Babar Azam and a stunning five-wicket haul from all-rounder Jack Edwards.
Philippe and Azam ignite Sixers' innings
After being sent in to bat, the Sixers posted a formidable 5-198, built on the back of a brilliant 140-run partnership between Josh Philippe and Babar Azam. The pair came together early and dismantled the Thunder attack, rescuing the Sixers from a potentially precarious position. Pakistan's batting maestro, Azam, who had a quiet start to the tournament, looked in sublime touch, compiling 58 runs from 42 balls for his first BBL half-century.
At the other end, Philippe was in devastating form, threatening to become just the third Sixer to score a BBL century. He smashed four sixes on his way into the nineties, but his charge was cruelly halted on 96 when he was caught at backward point off Nathan McAndrew. A tight third umpire review confirmed the catch by Daniel Sams, denying Philippe a maiden T20 ton in his 104th BBL appearance.
Edwards' career night decimates Thunder
Chasing 199 for victory, the Thunder's innings never recovered from a disastrous powerplay. Jack Edwards, who had earlier contributed with the bat, produced a match-winning spell with the ball. In a single over, he removed young gun Sam Konstas and the experienced David Warner, both for just 2 runs, to leave the Thunder reeling at 3-17.
Despite a valiant counter-attack from Englishman Sam Billings, who blasted 51 from 28 balls, the Thunder kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Edwards returned to claim the vital wicket of Billings and later completed his maiden T20 five-wicket haul by removing Shadab Khan for 41. He finished with remarkable career-best figures of 5-26 from his four overs.
"I didn't really bowl much when I was younger, but I quickly realised how hard batting was at this level, so I worked on my bowling," a delighted Edwards said after the match. "It's nice that it's all starting to come together."
Sixers season alive, Thunder winless
The comprehensive defeat leaves last season's runners-up, the Sydney Thunder, winless after their opening two matches of the tournament. Their batting lineup, aside from Billings and Khan, failed to fire, and they were eventually bowled out for 151 with five balls remaining.
For the Sixers, the victory is a massive relief after concerns of an 0-3 start. The form of their marquee signing, Babar Azam, will be particularly encouraging. "We pretended tonight was his debut," joked Edwards about Azam's belated arrival party. "He started the tournament brilliantly tonight."
The win propels the Sixers up the BBL ladder and sets up their season, while the Thunder are left to search for answers ahead of their next fixture.
