Hayden Kerr's 98* sends Sixers into BBL final as Strikers go down in final-ball humdinger
Sydney Sixers kept their dreams of a historic hat-trick of titles alive, helped in part by Abbott's three-for and 41 as Wells' 62* went in vain
Sydney Sixers kept their dreams of a historic hat-trick of titles alive, helped in part by Abbott's three-for and 41 as Wells' 62* went in vain
Scorer: @Thilak_Rama | Commentator: @PeterDellaPenna
10.40 pm Sixers have limped, literally, into the final. The Strikers dream end of season run finally comes to an end. Scorchers will be overwhelming favorites in the final. Forget about matching talent with the Scorchers, will the Sixers even be able to get 11 fit bodies on the field?
Sixers captain Moises Henriques: "[Silk] went out to the short boundary in the hope that if was on strike, he had that short boundary. If he batted at No. 9, he could have a runner. We sent him in at No. 8 to try to get a couple boundaries in that last over. As soon as he wasn't able to face a ball and we needed a person to run, we knew he couldn't run so we just thought we'd retire him and put out someone who can. [When asked if retiring Silk before the final ball is within the spirit of the game] They're clearly within the rules of the game. Unfortunately we had a guy go down with a hamstring, one of the fittest guys in the league, probably something to do with our schedule, five flights in eight days and so many back to back games. I don't really see how that's... We're trying to back up with guys who are carrying little injuries. He normally bats No. 5, the fact that he's gone in at No. 8, I think we're sacrificing enough as it is. 27 off 12, even 31 off 13 and then Sean hit that four, we always talk about trying to get the game down to 50 off five overs and we should win with set batters. It was a bit more than that tonight and with a few less experienced batters in but when you've got someone like Hayden on 60 or 70 not out, he'd opened the batting a few times before and I feel like throughout the season with his bowling coming along, his confidence has built up with both bat and ball. So he was a pretty clear choice for us to go up and open. The way he held his nerve in the last three or four overs, beautifully supported by Sean, that was a pretty special win, especially considering all the lead-up that's gone on. I have no idea at this stage [if I'll be fit for the final]. It's gonna have to be a bloody bad calf for me not to play to be honest. Obviously a flight tomorrow won't be amazing. But we'll see what happens. At this stage, I think I'll be fine to play. I'll just hobble around like an old bloke but I've been doing that all season anyway."
Player of the Match Hayden Kerr: "It's a pretty unbelievable moment for myself and the team. We just seem to always find a way to get it done in those moments and tonight was just another example. The help of the other boys was really good, kept me grounded and just focus on each ball at hand. I was seeing the ball pretty nicely and was just trying to keep still and hit the ball hard and it came off for me. Yesterday afternoon [after we found out about Philippe's positive Covid test], I was at training [and was told I'd open today] so I had a stick against the new ball which I hadn't done for awhile. I had a sleepless night and was very nervous today. I thought the total was 20 under, but was disappointed with my bowling performance so was quite happy to be able to contribute with the bat. Sean has been in those moments a lot so it was really good for him to pass that on to me and he relieved the pressure off me. I'm not sure what his strike rate was, but it felt like he was going at four or six a ball and that got us over the line. I definitely rode my luck as well. Missed chance first ball of the game which was really stupid of me in hindsight and then a missed chance early too. But after I got past that, I just stayed centered and did the job."
Incredible drama to end this game. Can the final match it? Come back in two days to find out. For Alex Malcolm on comms and Andrew McGlashan at the SCG as well as the rest of the scoring team, I'm Peter Della Penna. Stay tuned for Tristan Lavalette's report. That's it for now. Take care!
Sixers bench are calling for Silk to retire hurt because he can't run. They want a healthy runner to be at the non-striker's end for the final ball. Very dramatic. Off comes Silk. Lenton, who was an assistant coach entering the day, is now off strike for the final ball ready to run like the wind.
JC Silk retired hurt 1 (3m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 100.00
Kerr has now quadrupled his career-best, which was 22 entering tonight.
Boundary or bust now for Kerr with Silk basically unable to run properly.
Jordan Silk comes out to bat on one leg.
BJ Dwarshuis run out 0 (2m 0b 0x4 0x6) SR: -
Dwarshuis enters off strike. Kerr on 85 with 12 needed off five.
SA Abbott c Head b Conway 41 (25m 20b 2x4 2x6) SR: 205.00
Jay Lenton was brought on for the final delivery so he could do the running, with Hayden Kerr on strike
Sydney Sixers kept their dreams of a historic hat-trick of titles alive, helped in part by Abbott's three-for and 41 as Wells' 62* went in vain