The Sydney Sixers took the spoils in front of a capacity crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as the Sydney Thunder’s finals qualifications hopes were officially ended.
Having restricted the hosts to 7/151 in their 20 overs, the Thunder chase was stifled by the spin of Stephen O’Keefe in his last regular season BBL fixture at the SCG, eventually falling 20 runs short of the target.
At the top of the day, Chris Green won the bat flip and chose to bowl first.
That decision was quickly vindicated with Steve Smith on his way off the very first delivery, the newly appointed Australian opener clipping Daniel Sams into the grateful hands of Nathan McAndrew.
Toby Gray then had a moment to remember in front of a capacity crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground, bowling English import James Vince for his first Big Bash wicket on debut.
Regular wickets, including another tight spell from Tanveer Sangha (2/22) and a brace of scalps for McAndrew (2/17) kept the Sixers in check, Moises Henriques’ men posting 7/151 from their 20 overs.
In reply, Alex Hales and the returning David Warner, who arrived via helicopter earlier in the day, put on 44 inside 4.2 overs before the retiring Stephen O’Keefe dismissed the former for 28.
That kickstarted a regular flow of wickets that stymied the visitors’ progress, only Warner finding the boundary regularly, before he too departed to O’Keefe for 37.
That marked the last of the Thunder’s hopes as Green’s men ended on 132 all out.
View the full scorecard here, or read the match report here.
The Thunder now travel down to Canberra for a fixture against Adelaide Strikers before returning to the Sydney Showground for their final game of BBL|13, against the Melbourne Renegades on Wednesday. Tickets for the remaining fixtures can be bought here.