Sydney Sixers came out on top once again as they beat Adelaide Strikers by 4 wickets.
It was the new father, Sean Abbott who created two milestones for himself in the match and came to the side after the birth of his daughter Ella.
He became the highest wicket-taker in the BBL after beating Ben Laughlin’s record of 111 wickets and now has 112 wickets in 11 seasons and also scalped his 100th wicket for the Sixers (he has 10 for the Sydney Thunder).
The right-arm bowler is only the second bowler to reach this milestone after Andrew Tye did it for the Scorchers last night.
It only took Abbott 83 matches to achieve the milestone of the highest wicket-taker, surpassing Laughlin’s 96 matches for the Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, and Hobart Hurricanes.
Abbott took 3-24 off his four overs and restricted the Strikers to a total of 147/8 off their 20 overs, and also played a handy knock of 19 not out off 10 balls that took the Sixers to another win.
Innings Story of the Adelaide Strikers
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the Strikers started off on a good note and smashed boundaries off the Sixers bowlers. Matt Short played the first ball of the match through cover to the boundary.
Short was looking extremely good as he hit 18 runs off Ben Dwarshuis.
But it was Sean Abbott who got the better of him as Short played a drive that was taken by Dan Christian at the point.
The Strikers continued to have a superb run and smashed runs at a great pace but it was Sean Abbott who continued to make inroads into their batting lineup but couldn’t get his hat-trick in the match.
Another star performer for the Strikers was Matthew Renshaw who along with Jon Wells stitched a partnership of 59 runs for the third wicket.
But, it was the experience of Dan Christian that spoiled the Strikers’ game and they slumped to 115/7.
It was Thomas Kelly who smashed 41 off 34 balls that took the Strikers to a competitive total for their bowlers to bowl at.
Dan Christian was the other wrecker with the ball taking 3-8 off his three overs.
Innings Story of the Sydney Sixers
The Sixers also got off to a good start with their openers scoring pretty well but fell in quick succession, and when Daniel Hughes went to the dugout, the score was 63/3 and an upset was visible for the Sixers.
Skipper Moises Henriques tried to keep his team afloat but he and Dan Christian were dismissed by Rashid Khan on his consecutive deliveries in the 17th over that again took the game in the hands of the Strikers.
It was Jordan Silk who patched up the innings with Abbott and took it towards victory and young Hayden Kerr sealed it with a six with four balls to spare.
This win puts the Sixers in second place, behind Perth Scorchers who are undefeated this season and have a superior net run rate.
The next game for the Sixers is against Sydney Thunder in a local derby on Boxing Day while for the fifth-placed Strikers, it will be the Brisbane Heat they have to battle at home in two days’ time.
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