The Sixers are still waiting on their superstar signing to deliver after Pakistani great Babar Azam failed with the bat for the second game in a row as the men in magenta went down to the Strikers in a final-over thriller on an emotional night in Sydney.
The BBL’s biggest name came to Australia with the most runs in T20 internationals but he’s been shown up by some of the locals after Azam was sent packing for just nine as the Sixers slumped to 0-2.
After making two on debut in the season opener, Azam was almost dismissed for a diamond duck when the ball fizzed past the stumps with the talented opener well short of his ground.
But he didn’t last much longer with a mistimed pull short gobbled up by mid-wicket before Josh Philippe gave the innings some impetus with a flashy 46 off 28.
The Sixers were flying with him at the crease but lost 3-6 in the middle overs on their way to a subpar total of 9-159 which never felt like enough on a good deck at the SCG.
Their bowlers did well to take the game as deep as they did, with veteran Dan Hughes winding back the clock with a stunning one-handed grab to remove Harry Nielsen for a duck.
The loss leaves them winless after two games ahead of Saturday’s Sydney Smash, with the Sixers needing to click into gear in such a rapid competition if they want to feature in the finals.
THE EMPIRE STRIKERS BACK
They won just three matches and finished with the wooden spoon last season, but the Strikers are off to a fantastic start thanks to an unlikely hero with the bat.
Bash brothers Chris Lynn and Matt Short both missed out with the bat, but Liam Scott picked up the slack with his second BBL half-century.
Scott smoked three sixes as he brought up his 50 off 31 before he was dismissed next ball in the power surge, with Jamie Overton (30 off 20) adding some crucial runs in the chase.
Overton and fellow quick Luke Wood combined for five wickets, while spinner Lloyd Pope removed the dangerous Philippe and Jordan Silk in consecutive balls to derail the Sixers’ innings.
It was fitting that Wood was there to hit the winning runs off Hayden Kerr.
SECURITY RAMPED UP
More than 20,000 fans were at the SCG for what was the first major sporting event in Sydney since the Bondi massacre, with thousands delayed at the gates at the start of the match due to an increased security presence.
Mandatory bag checks and wandings were required for everyone in attendance as a precaution, with both teams paying tribute to the victims with a moment’s silence and then a round of applause for first responders before the match.
Players from both sides wore black armbands as the cricket fraternity came together to support Bondi residents and the Jewish community during such a difficult time.
Originally published as Scott smashes fifty to lead Strikers to win after Philippe fireworks, another Babar Azam failure
