That was a fun game. Perhaps an expected result but much more closely contested than it seems by a look at the scorecard. Hopefully, they are signs of promise heading into a new season.
Moises Henriques, POTM and Sydney Sixers captain: We've had a lot of success but the first game is often nerve-wracking. Glad we bowled well. Balls flew over the keeper early. Thought they were 10-15 overs, but glad we got through. I was trying to play it down in the Surge as we needed 34 off 24 and I took it, watched the ball hard and hit it hard, but tough gig for Zorba with the short boundary. To bowl spin in the Surge is tough, even for a world-class spinner, but there wasn't much hold in the wicket. (Abbott and Dwarshuis) They went at 8 and 9 an over but bowled tough overs, so I felt the boys bowled better than what his figures suggest.
10:35pm: Three sixes and two fours in the last two overs and Sixers are home with nine balls to spare. They were often at par with the asking rate but, like Gades earlier in the day, lose wickets in a cluster, thanks to Sutherland. But the set up by Vince and Edwards was solid, and the pitch eased over time. The running, especially from Moises, was impeccable. They got ones and twos, with the odd boundary, got eights and tens effortlessly off an over. They got the Surge, and Dwarshuis - who came in after Hayden Kerr was retired hurt - got a couple away, ensuring Sixers were indeed a few short.
END OF OVER:18 | 16 Runs | SS: 162/5 (8 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.00, RRR: 4.00)
- Moises Henriques53 (27b)
- Ben Dwarshuis4 (3b)
- Adam Zampa4-0-34-0
- Kane Richardson3-0-23-1
Zampa back now
END OF OVER:17 | 10 Runs | SS: 146/5 (24 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.58, RRR: 8.00)
- Moises Henriques38 (22b)
- Ben Dwarshuis3 (2b)
- Kane Richardson3-0-23-1
- Tom Rogers3-0-35-1
Nick: "Picked up on Fox Cricket - Zampa was originally set to bowl that first surge over, but once Dwarshuis walked out, took his hat back off the umpire and has left the field again" Thanks
Death overs will also commence the Power Surge. Offcutter, on a length, away from the bat swing, up in the air, is Evans' prediction
END OF OVER:16 | 10 Runs | SS: 136/5 (34 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 8.50, RRR: 8.50)
- Moises Henriques31 (18b)
- Tom Rogers3-0-35-1
- Will Sutherland2-0-10-2
Hayden Kerr held his left hamstring going for the second last ball. He's getting medical attention now. On-air comms mentioning Kerr might be done, that Moises might've signalled a lhb to come in. But there are leg stretches going on. Dwarshuis padded up. Oh wow, Kerr is walking back. Gades' fielders go to the ump and ask if that was a tactical choice. But there was a replay suggesting Kerr was ginger. Evans, who's on the mic, also feels it wasn't
H Kerr retired hurt 4 (7m 7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 57.14
