Eyeing for the top two spots in the points table, the Sydney Sixers’ decision to field first against the Adelaide Strikers was well backed by the new ball pacers. Matt Short was sent back to the pavilion in the first over, followed by Hayden Kerr and Ben Dwarshuis curbing the powerplay score to 33. Right after, Todd Murphy’s introduction removed D’Arcy Short and Alex Carey in the fifth over before OIlie Pope and Alex Ross took a cautious approach against the duo. The pair added 30 runs in the next five overs before racking up 31 runs in the power surge between eleven and the thirteenth over. With Pope bringing up his fifty, the partnership almost neaed hundred when Jack Edwards outsmarted him in the 17th over. Twelve balls later, Ross departed for 48 but Jamie Overton’s 14-ball 32 blitz propelled the Strikers to formidable 182/5 in 20 overs.
In response, the opening pair of Josh Philippe and Steve Smith failed to offer a pleasant start with the former getting caught inside the thirty-yard circle in the second over. While Smith struggled to time at the start, he adapted to the T20 format quickly, bludgeoning three big sixes inside a 47-run mandatory powerplay. Although he sold Jack Edwards down the river in an attempt of a double, Smith’s fifty in 27 balls kept the Sixers in the hunt until the ninth over. Jamie Overton returned to remove Smith for 52 followed by Jordan Silk getting trapped in front. With 92/4 in ten overs, the Sixers incurred another setback when Llyod Pope trapped Moises Henriques on the next ball with Lachlan Shaw and Ben Dwarshuis at the crease. The pair attacked the looseners while milking the others, steering the Sixers to 127/5 in 15 overs before the power surge was opted. 21 runs came off the floating powerplay for the loss of Dwarshuis. With 35 needed from the last three overs, the lower order waged 25 runs in the next couple of overs, reducing the equation to 10 needed off six balls. Eight runs came halfway through the over, needing two off just three which the tail surmounted convincingly.
Another 50 for Steve Smith!
What a player he is. #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/yq5ajKvTUH— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 15, 2025
Smudge 🔥
— ꜰᴀʀʜᴀɴ✩ (@Berlinhumai) January 15, 2025
Agreed!
He is the greatest batsman of Australia, does he play Test, ODI or T20
— CricTalkWith – Atif 🏏 (@cricatif) January 15, 2025
He does it the most!
Impressive inning
— Haya Fatima (@HFatima098) January 15, 2025
Ollie Pope brought up 50 and then went bang! #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/owQHmW67Kf
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 15, 2025
LOL! Why?
Ollie Pope playing T20 cricket is annoying
— 🖤 (@ameye_17) January 15, 2025
What??
when Ollie Pope Scoring runs ,that shows you how shit your bowling is😂
— S. (@royal7_s) January 15, 2025
Australian batsman Steve Smith is the GOAT for real! 🔥🦅
— 𝓟𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮 🥂 (@whyy__prince) January 15, 2025
That makes me sad!
