Sydney Sixers 186/7 (20/20 ov)
Hobart Hurricanes 91 (15.5/20 ov)
Sydney Sixers won by 95 runs
Nathan Lyon obliterated the Hobart Hurricanes at the SCG, as part of the Sydney Sixers' fierce response to suffering a first loss to the Sydney Thunder in five years of the Big Bash League.
Two wickets for Lyon in as many balls in the first over of the Hurricanes' chase was followed up by three more when he returned for a second spell, making an overwhelming case for his consideration as part of Australia's World Twenty20 squad to India next year. Kumar Sangakkara's BBL debut was marked by a golden duck at Lyon's hands, much as the spinner had claimed his wicket with his very first ball in Test cricket, in Galle four years ago.
Shaun Tait's first-over dismissal of Michael Lumb was just about the only moment of ascendancy the Hurricanes enjoyed all afternoon. Brad Haddin flayed a carefree 72 and was helped by contributions from Nic Maddinson and Jordan Silk, before the Hurricanes' reply disintegrated in the face of neat and tidy bowling by Lyon, Doug Bollinger, Steve O'Keefe and Sean Abbott.
The Sixers' largely homegrown combination contrasts with Hurricanes' collection of players hailing from across Australia and the world. It is possible they will settle with the benefit of time, but it is certain that Darren Sammy (0 for 32 in two overs, 2 runs) and Sangakkara in particular will expect better of themselves in future.
Sangakkara's unceremonious exit on BBL debut arrived courtesy of a presumptuous attempt to loft Lyon down the ground, the ball after Tim Paine had flicked the same bowler to midwicket. Lyon had also deceived and dismissed Sangakkara with his first delivery in Test matches - the Sri Lankan champion would not be alone in wondering why Lyon is still considered a Test match only proposition by Australia's selectors.
"He was outstanding, no secret I think he's the premier spinner in Australia no matter what ball he's got in his hand and over the last 48 months he's just getting better and better every time he bowls," Haddin said of Lyon. "That wicket was perfect for him tonight, it had a bit of bounce and turn, so it was good to watch.
"He's a clever bowler now, you only have to look at the results he's produced in Test cricket. I think he's got to just keep improving like he is. Selections are the easy part, they'll take care of themselves, he's just got to keep performing every time he gets the opportunity, and with Test cricket you don't often get the opportunity to play white-ball cricket, but every time he has he's done really well.
"I think you just pick your best bowlers. He can't do anything more Nathan at the moment, he's doing all the right things when he gets the opportunity to play white ball cricket, so it's up to them [the selectors]."
Lyon's web grew more enveloping when he resumed later in the innings, the Hurricanes having been curtailed from building any sort of momentum by regular wickets. These included Doug Bollinger summoning a screeching yorker to splay the stumps of Ben Dunk, and Sammy failing to ride the bounce on a dry surface that nevertheless offered something for the pacemen.
Lyon's loop was to account for Joe Mennie, Sam Rainbird and Tait, leaving him with the handsome figures of 5 for 23. Only the Hurricanes' senior batsman George Bailey was able to put an innings together, his 62 serving mainly to ensure his side avoided the ignominy of posting the most meagre tally in all BBL matches - a record still held by the Melbourne Renegades' 57 all out last season.
Haddin's earlier free-swinging display had allowed the Sixers to set a steep target, while also demonstrating the benefits of retirement from international cricket. Haddin's intentions were brazen but his head was clear, and eight fours scorched from his blade in addition to a pair of sweetly struck sixes.
Maddinson and Silk each offered sturdy support, the former skating to 21 in a matter of minutes, the latter working the ball around intelligently but also clearing the ropes twice. Cameron Boyce and Dan Christian each bowled tightly for the Hurricanes, but their efforts were to be totally overshadowed by Lyon, much to the delight of the 20,072 in attendance.
The Sixers' only minor concern was an apparent leg twinge for Haddin when batting. He was able to keep wicket without too much trouble, but will need to see how the injury cools down ahead of the next match against the Melbourne Renegades on Wednesday. "I went to turn and I was just a bit short, my spikes caught and I went to go again and something just caught at the back of my leg," he said. "It felt all right keeping ... just getting old probably."
Sydney Thunder 178/6 (20/20 ov)
Melbourne Stars 177/5 (20/20 ov)
Sydney Thunder won by 1 run
Has Usman Khawaja really just missed a month of cricket? The apparent ease with which he compiled a match-winning BBL century for the Sydney Thunder suggested a man who was in rare form, which Khawaja had been in early November when he scored hundreds in back-to-back Tests against New Zealand. Australia's selectors will be thrilled that his time on the sidelines with a hamstring injury has not affected his touch.
Khawaja is expected to walk back into Australia's team for the Boxing Day Test against West Indies after his unbeaten 109 from 70 deliveries for the Thunder, an innings in which he showed no fitness concerns after a month out of the game. He batted through the Thunder innings for his first Twenty20 century as they posted 6 for 178, and in the end it proved enough for the team's second consecutive win at the start of the BBL - though only just.
Kevin Pietersen nearly led the Melbourne Stars to a remarkable heist at the MCG, where he struck a highly entertaining 76 from 42 deliveries that pushed the Stars close to their target. They needed 51 from the final four overs but Pietersen drastically reduced the required rate by plundering three sixes off a Gurinder Sandhu over that brought 27 in total, and left the Stars needing just 27 off the final three overs.
However, in the penultimate over Pietersen skied a pull off Clint McKay and was well caught at fine leg by Fawad Ahmed, which gave the Thunder a sniff once again after Pietersen seemed to take the match out of their hands. But the renowned finisher James Faulkner remained at the crease and with 10 needed off the last over, Thunder captain Michael Hussey entrusted the responsibility to his most experienced bowler, Jacques Kallis.
Kallis dug the ball in rather than giving Faulkner length, and two runs came from each of the first three deliveries of the over. But a pair of dot balls followed, including one that Faulkner missed as he tried to scoop Kallis over the wicktekeeper's head, and he could manage only two runs from the last ball as the Stars finished one run short of the Thunder, on 5 for 177, with Faulkner on 45.
Andre Russell had given the Thunder a good start to their bowling innings by removing both openers, Luke Wright and Marcus Stoinis, in the sixth over, and he finished with 2 for 28 from his four overs. But the key to the Thunder's win was unquestionably Khawaja, who was playing his first match in any format since the second Test against New Zealand at the WACA in mid-November, when he suffered his hamstring injury.
He scored runs all around the wicket and his placement was exquisite. He struck 12 fours and three sixes, mostly from regulation cricket shots but also with the occasional touch of T20 flair, such as when he scooped John Hastings for a boundary over the head of the wicketkeeper. Khawaja brought up his hundred - the first of this BBL summer - from his 62nd delivery, and he was pleased with how his hamstring fared.
"I'm really happy with the way it felt," Khawaja said. "The test was how it would feel when I went back into the field, backing up, and it felt really good. The longer I was out there the more I started trusting my body. I was a little bit anxious at the start but the further on I got through the more happy I felt. I'll keep trying to tick all the boxes and … fingers crossed I'll be right for the rest of the summer."
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