The 48th T20 match of the Big Bash League was fought between Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide on 22 Jan 2021. The Sixers won the toss and invited the opposition to bat first. Usman Khawaja and Alex Hales were sent to open for Sydney Thunder. Jackson Bird got the new ball in hand to open attack.
Alex Hales started the inning very well but Usman Khawaja was not able to continue and lost his wicket at the score of 37 runs in 3.1 overs. After the dismissal, Callum Ferguson came to join Hales and both made a wonderful partnership of 69 runs. Sydney had already put 100 runs on the scoreboard at 9.2 overs but Ferguson was sent back by Lloyd Pope in 9.4 overs. That was a much-needed breakthrough for the Sixers and they could back into the game after the dismissal of Ferguson. But Alex Hales did a tremendous job and made 110 runs from 56 balls with nine 4s and eight 6s. Finally, Sydney Thunder had put a big total of 232 runs on the scoreboard in 20 overs and the Sixers got the target of 233 runs. The chase was not going to be easy for the Sixers.
Josh Philippe and James Vince were sent to chase the target and Adam Milne got the new ball to stop them. After the end of the first mandatory Powerplay, Sydney Sixers had made 40 runs but lost the first wicket on the very first ball of the next over. Unfortunately, Josh Philippe was run out by Ferguson. Daniel Huges, who came after Philippe, could not do well and clean bowled by Cutting in 5.1 overs. James Vince was also sent back by Sangha in the next over. Sydney Sixers had lost 3 wickets at the score of 62 runs. After 3 wickets, Moises Henriques and Jordan Silk handled the situation and added a partnership of 90 runs. But after the dismissal of Henriques at the score of 152, the Sixers could make only 186 runs in 20 overs and lost the match by 46 runs. Henriques added some efforts to save the match and made 56 runs from 35 balls but could not achieve the target.
Sydney Thunder won the 48th BBL match of the 2020-21 season. Alex Hales was the Man of the Match for his excellent batting performance.
Stats - Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder Head to Head