What a start it was to the 2021/22 Big Bash League as the defending champions Sydney Sixers registered a thumping win against Melbourne Stars in Match 1 of BBL 11. Having won the last two editions of the tournament, Sixers were favourites playing at their home ground, but not any expected such a thumping victory and such a one-sided contest today.
Sixers batted first and put up a massive 213/4 in their 20 overs, led by fifties from Josh Philippe and captain Moises Henriques. It was too steep a chase for Stars and we didn’t expect them to win but neither did we expect them to crumble in the chase. They were fielding 6 debutants today and the inexperience was clearly on display, as they lost wickets at regular intervals.
Steve O’Keefe took two wickets in the first over itself, while Hayden Kerr picked two wickets in his first over and Sean Abbott got 2 in an over as well! Later, SOK returned to bowl and he picked another couple of wickets off successive deliveries and losing wickets in clusters is never a good sign. Eventually, Stars led by Glenn Maxwell were bundled out for 61 runs, narrowly missing the lowest score in BBL history.
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The previous record was held by the Sixers itself, beating Melbourne Renegades by 145 runs just last season. This is the sign of a great team, when you hold records and then go on to break your own records too. It’s a great start to their BBL 11 campaign too, with Philippe ending as Man of the Match for his 83(47).
Yes, Marcus Stoinis and Nathan Coulter-Nile missing for Stars were big blows but it still was a very poor performance and there are no excuses. Maxwell and co will have to pull up their socks for the rest of the tournament, if they are to do well here this season. For all things BBL 11 related, stay tuned to ReadScoops.com…
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