Dwarshuis gives Sixers last-ball win in thrilling Sydney derby
Sixers needed 15 from the last over, and then seven off the last two, but Dwarshuis' six off the penultimate ball sealed the deal
Sixers needed 15 from the last over, and then seven off the last two, but Dwarshuis' six off the penultimate ball sealed the deal
Commentator: Shashwat Kumar
10:45pm That will be all from us for this game. A proper rollercoaster that, until the last moment, had everyone hooked. The Sixers, like they do often, found a way and that has taken them to the top of the table (for now). We will be back with more BBL action soon, and until then, this is goodbye from all of us here at ESPNcricinfo!
Ben Dwarshuis, Player of the Match: You play the game to be in those moments. Silk and I were there, we wanted to enjoy it and do our best. That was one of our better (wins). I was mis-hitting them well into the gaps (laughs). Credit to Green for the way he bowled the last over, he made us wait until the end. Just wanted to stay still, watch and react, and trust my hands to get the job done. Got a really nice bat, and just trying to swing hard after staying still. Nice to connect a few. (On his bowling) Bit disappointed with my first two overs but nice to bounce back (later in the innings). To pick up two wickets during the Surge was nice. Spoken about a lot - the rivalry between the two teams and it was nice to be able to win on their home turf.
10:39pm Phew. What a game of cricket. It ebbed and flowed until the last two balls. Seven were needed off two, and then, Dwarshuis played the shot of his dreams. A clean strike (albeit off a low full toss) that sailed over the fence and leveled the scores, further illustrating just how fine the margins can be in the BBL. Take no credit away from Silk either, who walked in when the chase was flagging and found the fence just when his team needed him to. Prior to that, Philippe and Edwards produced useful cameos to keep the chase ticking.
The Thunder left everything out on the field as well. They made the Sixers scrap for every run and effected two run-outs that, on another day, may have proved pivotal. The one thing they gamble on (and probably got wrong) was to hold one of Green's overs back and that came back to haunt them, especially with the game still on the line in the 20th over. Lots of positives to take, though, even if they have handed bragging rights over to their cross-town rivals.
Scores level. A dot or a wicket and we go into...you know it. Anything else, and the Sixers are home and dry. Almost everyone up in the ring. Deep mid wicket the sole fielder out
7 off 2. Can Dwarshuis find the fence now, under this sort of pressure?
8 off 3
9 off 3
Silk on strike. 10 off 3. Can he line up the off-spinner? Pretty sure this will be another dart from Green and possibly into the blockhole. Over the wicket
11 off 4. Sixers need to find the fence, right about now
Sixers needed 15 from the last over, and then seven off the last two, but Dwarshuis' six off the penultimate ball sealed the deal