Big Bash League: Sydney Sixers extend winning streak over Melbourne Renegades at SCG

The Sydney Sixers have dealt another lesson to their bunnies, the Melbourne Renegades, with a 34-run victory at the SCG as WA veteran Shaun Marsh made a scratchy return from injury.

Melbourne have not beaten the Sixers since BBL|08 and, despite a brave fight back with the ball, fell well short of the four-time champions with the bat on Wednesday night.

It was an all-round effort from the home side with ball in hand, Ben Dwarshuis leading the way with 4-17, including 19 dots, but it was West Australian talisman Josh Philippe who turbocharged their night, cracking 55 from 40 to set up a winning total.

Kurtis Patterson took the aggressor role as the Sixers made a solid start batting first, but he fell trying to push the pace, hitting a cut shot straight to Kane Richardson on 17.

Not long after, keeper Peter Handscomb dropped Philippe on 15.

The energetic opener hit the next two balls to the boundary.

Philippe went longer in the next over, clocking Mujeeb Ur Rahman for two towering sixes on the slog sweep as he drifted into his arc.

The West Aussie was given another life when Jono Wells couldn’t hold onto a tough chance in the deep.

Unbelievably, James Vince was then dropped, by Mujeeb, in the next over on a simple fly ball.

Camera Icon Josh Philippe of the Sixers bats during the Men’s Big Bash League match between the Sydney Sixers and the Melbourne Renegades at Sydney Cricket Ground, on December 28, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. Credit: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Philippe kept the pedal to the metal as he passed 50, but he eventually went one too many and was caught ramping for 55.

The Renegades pounced on their moment, roaring back into the contest with the cheap wickets of Moises Henriques and Vince.

Richardson turned the momentum, allowing just nine runs from the first Power Surge over as well as capturing the prized scalp of Dan Christian.

Mujeeb’s next over was even better, keeping Jordan Silk spellbound for three dots before putting him out of his misery.

Kerr followed Silk two balls later as the Sixers lost 3-10 in the Surge.

Camera Icon Sean Abbott of the Sixers celebrates after taking the wicket of Akeal Hosein of the Renegades during the Men’s Big Bash League match between the Sydney Sixers and the Melbourne Renegades at Sydney Cricket Ground, on December 28, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. Credit: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

The Renegades remained alert, restricting the home side to 8-149.

Blockbuster Renegade’s signing Martin Guptill’s less-than-ideal preparation came back to bite him as he departed the SCG just four balls into the chase for a duck on his Melbourne debut.

Marsh (28 from 25) was brought to the crease for his first match since the Sheffield Shield final by skipper Nic Maddinson being caught at mid-wicket.

The early wickets, combined with Aaron Finch and Marsh’s habit of making slow starts, had all the momentum with the Sixers as the score sat at 2-18 after six overs.

But the pair began to make headway as the drinks break approached, taking down in-form off-spinner Todd Murphy and Christian to leave themselves needing nine an over for the last 10.

Camera Icon Shaun Marsh of the Renegades bats during the Men’s Big Bash League match between the Sydney Sixers and the Melbourne Renegades at Sydney Cricket Ground, on December 28, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. Credit: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

The innings turned again just four balls after the break as Marsh was undone by the perfect line and length from Hayden Kerr, striking the top of off stump.

Finch picked up the weight but was caught short on 36.

Will Sutherland and Handscomb did their best to eat into the target, but after nailing a monster six, Sutherland was caught spectacularly in the deep by Sean Abbott.

The rest of the batsmen didn’t trouble the scorers much as the Renegades were bundled out for 115.