Teams Status
Sydney Sixers
Sydney Sixers dimmed the pain of their back-to-back defeats to Perth Scorcher by beating Melbourne Renegades in their last game.
Even though it was only against the Gades, the result would lift the Sixers’ spirits considering they hadn’t previously tasted victory in 2022.
That’s exactly what their skipper Moises Henriques said this week. “Naturally when you win and you get a job done, it just gives you that little hit of positivity that I think the squad really needed, just to get us back on track.”
They batted first but did not bat too well, losing opener Josh Philippe in the opening over before Jack Edwards (40) and Henriques’ (49) efforts got the team to 150 for 6.
The batters did an okay job but their bowlers were superb. Ben Dwarshuis was the pick of them all as he clinched five wickets, wreaking havoc in the Gades’ middle and lower orders as they got bundled out for a mere 105.
The Sixers, after a fortnight spent with a depleted squad, now have an almost clean bill of health. Apart from Ben Manenti, all their local players are available to be selected.
Sydney Thunder
Sydney Thunder saw their six-game winning streak get snapped in their last game when they lost to a Hobart Hurricanes side inspired by the return of their captain Matthew Wade.
It was a slim defeat of nine runs and does not by any mean means that the Thunder are any less strong than they seemed during their unbeaten run.
In fact, at multiple points in their unsuccessful pursuit of 178, they seemed in control, especially when they were 92-2 after 8 overs, needing a mere 86 from 72 balls with the in-form Jason Sangha and Daniel Sams at the crease. But Sangha departed on the first ball of the ninth and an unfamiliar middle-order collapse saw the Thunder fall behind.
Coincidentally, their winning streak had begun right after they lost the first Sydney Smash of the season on Boxing Day. It almost appeared that the pain of that defeat lead them to inflict pain on their next few opponents.
The good news for the Thunder is that their captain Chris Green is back to take away the leadership mantle from Sangha.
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