Sutherland all-round show in vain as Sixers begin with win

BBL 2023-24

[File picture] Steve Smith scored 61 as Sixers won by eight runs © Getty

Will Sutherland’s brilliant all-round show was in vain as Sydney Sixers prevailed by eight runs to begin their new BBL campaign with a win. The all-rounder picked up two wickets in the fifth over of Sixers’ innings before smashing a valiant fifty in the chase, but it was Steve Smith’s 61 that triumphed at the SCG.

Put in to bat first, Sixers were off to a flying start with 58-run opening stand before Sutherland dismissed a well-set Josh Philippe (29 off 17) and James Vince in the space of an over. Smith joined hands with Moises Henriques to put on a 69-run stand, marching to a brisk 31-ball fifty in the 12th over.

Kane Richardson broke the threatening stand, with the help of a review though, as Henriques missed out on his half-century by 10. Zampa, at the other end, made it a double blow by sending Smith back to the hut after he got a thick top-edge on his attempted slogsweep. Melbourne Renegades managed to apply the brakes for another over but the last couple cost them 14 and 17, as Jordan Silk’s 26-run cameo propelled Sixers to a competitive 175/6.

With the ball, it was Ben Dwarshuis who starred for the Sixers as he claimed a three-fer. Renegades chase was off to a torrid start after losing Nic Maddinson in the first over itself before slipping to a precarious 39/3 in the fifth over.

Jake Fraser-McGurk counter-attacked with a 24-ball 48, as he resurrected the chase momentarily with Aaron Finch (33 off 31) for company. But once Dwarshuis broke through that stubborn stand, Renegades could never manage to stitch another substantial partnership to take them through. Sutherland hacked four sixes in his 30-ball 51, keeping the visitors in the hunt right until the final over, only to eventually fall eight short.

Brief scores: Sydney Sixers 175/6 in 20 overs (Steve Smith 61, Moises Henriques 40; Will Sutherland 2-21, Adam Zampa 2-24) beat Melbourne Renegades 167/7 in 20 overs (Will Sutherland 51*, Jake Fraser-McGurk 48; Ben Dwarshuis 3-36) by 8 runs

© Cricbuzz

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