Tag: BBL 15

SYDNEY: David Warner’s rollicking 130* from 65 balls went in vain as Tim Ward’s 90 propelled Hobart Hurricanes to a six-wicket win over Sydney Thunder here at the Sydney Showground Stadium on Saturday.

Set a daunting 206 in the 21st fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15,  Hurricanes chased down the target with ease, losing only wickets in the process with 13 balls to spare.

Mitchell Owen and Tim Ward set the tone early with a 108-run partnership for the opening wicket in just 8.3 overs.

Owen hit an 18-ball 45 with the help of five sixes and a four before getting caught behind.

However, Thunder bowlers could not stem the flow of runs as incoming Rehan Ahmed added another 40 with Ward to take the score to 148 in 12.4 overs.

Rehan made 16, which followed Ward’s and Ben McDermott’s departure in quick succession, as Daniel Sams sparked Sydney Thunder’s comeback.

As a result, Hobart Hurricanes slumped to 166-4 from 148-1 in 14.5 overs.

Tim Ward remained the highest scorer with 90 off 49 balls with the help of three fours and 10 boundaries.

Eventually, it was Matthew Wade’s and Nikhil Chaudhary’s 41* run partnership that took them over the line. Wade scored 13 from five with three boundaries while Nikhil hit two sixes and three fours on his way to 29* off 14.

For the Sydney Thunder, Daniel Sams remained the top wicket-taker with three wickets to his name.

Earlier, Sydney Thunder put on a show with the bat after put into bat first.

The cornerstone of Sydney Thunder’s innings was David Warner’s sublime century, his first since 2019 and his overall ninth in T20 cricket.

Will Prestwidge inflicted a miserable start on Sydney Thunder as they lost two in two in the first two deliveries of the match. Matthew Gilkes and Sam Konstas were sent packing for ducks, leaving the home side 2-0.

However, Warner held the innings together with a string of partnerships. The Southpaw first crafted a 66-run partnership with Sam Billings, who made 20.

The third wicket stand of 95 runs between Warner and Nic Maddinson was the highlight of the innings, particularly the former, who remained the core aggressor.

The duo brought the score to 161 in 18 overs before Maddison retired hurt on 30. But David Warner, who accumulated 14 and 30 from the last over, propelled the score over the 200-run mark.

For his outstanding knock, Warner. was named the player of the match in a losing cause.

For Hobart Hurricanes, Will Prestwidge remained the pick of the bowlers with two wickets upfront.

Hobart Hurricanes are now leading the points table with five victories in seven matches and 10 points.

Meanwhile, Sydney Thunder are now languishing at the bottom with just one victory from six matches.

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SYDNEY: Big Bash League (BBL) team Sydney Sixers captain Moises Henriques has lavished high praise on ace batter Babar Azam, calling him a ‘humble and game-smart’ presence to have around. 

Speaking during an interview, Henriques talked about Babar Azam’s inclusion in the Sixers squad for BBL 15 and praised him for bringing calm demeanor.

“It’s been a really cool experience because he is actually like really sort of a humble, really nice guy to have around the team and around the group,” Henriques said in an interview.

“I know a lot of people say that about people when they come in, but you know, given what he has achieved in world cricket, there’s a whole lot of humility that he brings. Obviously game smart and just really nice to talk cricket with,” he added.

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The all-rounder also talked about his influence, noting that the crowd comes alive with his presence on the field

“I guess the parade that comes around and follows him, we saw tonight when he got to his fifty, the crowd erupted even though it’s an away game,” Henriques stated.

“They’ve got a whole section shut down at the SCG just for Babar fans. So I think he has more fans than the Sixers, but hopefully we’ll convert a few of them,” he concluded.

For the unversed, BBL 15 is Babar Azam’s inaugural appearance in the tournament. The right handed batter so far scored 129 runs in five matches, with two fifties to his name.

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BRISBANE: Max Bryant’s 48* off 26 balls powered Brisbane Heat to a four-wicket victory over Melbourne Stars as pacer Haris Rauf failed to defend 10 in the final over in the 20th fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Heat chased down the stiff 196 on the fourth ball of the final over, losing six wickets in the process.

The win also ended Melbourne Stars’ winning streak and moved Heat to fourth on the points table.

Jack Wildermuth and Colin Munro added 18 for the opening wicket before both fell in a span of two overs, which reduced their side to 34-2 in 4.1 overs.

The former was caught for 15 while the latter could only add three to the total.

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After an early hiccup, skipper Nathan McSweeney and the leading run scorer of the tournament, Matt Renshaw, forged a 69-run partnership to put the chase back on track.

However, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Swepson removed both batters in back-to-back overs to dent the Heat’s progress. McSweeney departed for 43 while Renshaw hit four boundaries and a six in his 41 from 27 balls.

 

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Eventually, it was Xavier Bartlett’s and Max Bryant’s stand-off 66* that took them to a thrilling victory.

With 76 required of the last five, Bryant notably shifted the momentum in the Heat’s favour. He took Haris Rauf, Siddle, and Swepson to the cleaners, leaving the equation 10 required in the final over.

Haris bowled two decent first deliveries, which went for a single and a double, but Bryant hit a six and four to seal victory for his side.

For Melbourne Stars, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Swepson picked up two wickets each.

Earlier, sent in to bat first, Melbourne Stars racked up 195-6 at the end of their 20 overs, as skipper Marcus Stoinis led the way with a calculated knock.

Sam Harper (37) and Thomas Rogers (13) provided a strong start with a 52-run partnership before both of the batters were dismissed in quick succession.

After the double, Stoinis held the innings together with a string of partnerships that stabilized their innings. The skipper made 43 off 35 with the aid of five fours and a six.

But it was debutant Blake Macdonald’s whirlwind knock that propelled Stars to a strong total.

The right-hander hit 37* off just 12 balls, which included two sixes and four boundaries.

For Brisbane Heat, Thomas Balkin picked up two wickets.

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Australia pacer Sean Abbott has admitted his frustration at bowling to Babar Azam, calling the Pakistan star batter extremely hard to contain once he gets going.

Babar Azam is playing alongside Sean Abbott for Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Speaking during a chat with fellow players, Abbott admitted that bowling to Babar Azam is a challenging task due to his skill and temperament.

“Babar hits you where Babar wants to, and I’m sick of bowling at him,” Abbott said.

“Whether it’s domestic cricket or international cricket, I don’t think I’ve ever got him out, and it feels a bit like a death by a thousand cuts sometimes because you look up the scoreboard and he is striking at 120 and you don’t feel like you are nowhere near getting him out,” he added.

He also praised Babar’s contributions to the Sixers, calling him a vital cog and a perfect fit for the team.

“So, a real asset to have, and he has been a hell of a fit for us so far. Really blessed that Babar [is] in the Sixers.”

Abbott described facing him as frustrating, saying it often feels like “death by a thousand cuts” as Babar maintains a high strike rate while rarely giving a chance for dismissal.

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Earlier today, Babar Azam and Sean Abbott combined to lead Sydney Sixers to a six-wicket victory over the Melbourne Renegades in BBL 15.

Babar finished on 58 not out from 46 balls, striking four fours and a six, while  Abbott was the pick of the Sixers’ bowlers with three wickets to his name.

Overall, Babar has scored 129 runs in five matches so far with the help of two half-centuries.

On the other hand, Sean Abbott is BBL’s all-time highest wicket-taker with 179 scalps in 126 matches.

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HOBART: A blistering century from Mitchell Marsh, backed by a ruthless unbeaten knock from Aaron Hardie, powered Perth Scorchers to a commanding 40-run victory over Hobart Hurricanes in their Big Bash League (BBL) 15 clash at Bellerive Oval on Thursday.

Put in to bat first, the Scorchers piled on a daunting 229 for 3, riding on an explosive third-wicket partnership that completely shifted the momentum in their favour.

Marsh and Hardie came together with the score at 53 for 2 inside the powerplay and went on to dismantle the Hurricanes’ bowling attack with authority.

The duo added 164 runs off just 84 balls, combining clean hitting with smart placement to keep the scoreboard racing.

Marsh led the charge with a commanding 102 off 58 deliveries, peppering the boundary with 11 fours and launching five sixes before falling in the final over.

Hardie, meanwhile, remained unbeaten on 94 from 43 balls, striking nine fours and five sixes in a brutal finishing act that left Hobart chasing a near-impossible target.

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Nathan Ellis eventually broke the stand, but the damage had already been done as Perth surged to one of the highest totals of the season.

In reply, Hobart Hurricanes showed intent but never truly threatened the target, finishing on 189 for 9 from their 20 overs.

Nikhil Chaudhary provided late resistance with a quick 31 off 15 balls, while Matthew Wade (29) and Tim Ward (27) were the other notable contributors.

Perth’s bowling effort was led by captain Ashton Agar, who set the tone with a three-wicket haul.

Joel Paris and Hardie chipped in with two wickets each, while Cooper Connolly and Brody Couch claimed one apiece to ensure the Hurricanes were kept in check.

Despite the loss, Hobart Hurricanes remain second on the BBL 15 points table, with Perth Scorchers close behind in third, keeping the race for the top spots finely poised.

READ: Babar Azam levels Jos Buttler’s T20 record during BBL 15 clash

MELBOURNE: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam etched his name alongside former England captain Jos Buttler in the record books after producing a decisive knock during the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 encounter at Docklands Stadium on Thursday.

Representing Sydney Sixers against Melbourne Renegades, Babar anchored the chase with a composed unbeaten 58 off 46 deliveries, an innings laced with four boundaries and a six.

The knock not only guided the Sixers to a six-wicket win but also marked Babar’s 97th half-century in T20 cricket.

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With that effort, the former Pakistan skipper drew level with Buttler for the joint third-most fifties in the history of the shortest format.

Notably, Babar reached the milestone in just his 333rd T20 appearance, scoring 11 centuries along the way, while Buttler took 476 matches to get the same tally, with eight hundreds.

The all-time record for most T20 half-centuries remains with Australian great David Warner, who has amassed 113 fifties, followed by India’s Virat Kohli with 105.

Most T20 fifties:

• David Warner – 113
• Virat Kohli – 105
• Babar Azam – 97
• Jos Buttler – 97
• Alex Hales – 92

Babar’s latest innings also took his overall tally of 50-plus scores in T20 cricket to 108, comprising 97 half-centuries and 11 hundreds.

He is currently fourth on the all-time list for most 50+ scores in the format, behind Warner (121), Kohli (114) and Chris Gayle (110).

Babar’s knock proved the difference as Sydney Sixers sealed their second win of the BBL 15 campaign, climbing to fifth on the points table.

Melbourne Renegades, meanwhile, remain seventh with just one victory, sitting above only Sydney Thunder.

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MELBOURNE: Pakistan star Babar Azam produced a composed unbeaten half-century to lead Sydney Sixers to a six-wicket victory over Melbourne Renegades in a Big Bash League (BBL) season 15 encounter at Docklands Stadium on Thursday.

In a much-anticipated Babar Azam versus Mohammad Rizwan contest, the Sixers opted to field first after winning the toss.

Renegades lost early momentum when Jack Edwards dismissed Tim Seifert for eight, leaving the hosts 10 for 1 inside the first two overs.

Rizwan then partnered with Josh Brown in a brief counter-attack, though the second-wicket stand was largely driven by Brown’s aggressive approach.

The right-hander smashed 43 off just 19 balls, including three fours and four sixes, before Hayden Kerr broke the 44-run partnership. Rizwan struggled for fluency and was dismissed soon after, scoring six from ten deliveries.

Jake Fraser-McGurk steadied the innings with a 29-ball 38, featuring four boundaries, before falling to Sean Abbott after pushing the Renegades past the 100-run mark.

Hassan Khan provided late resistance with a quick 39, hitting three sixes and a four, but his dismissal in the final over curtailed the Renegades’ momentum as they finished on 164 for 9.

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Abbott was the pick of the Sixers’ bowlers with three wickets, while Edwards, Ben Dwarshuis and Kerr claimed two apiece.

In reply, the Sixers made a solid start through Daniel Hughes and Babar, adding 46 for the opening wicket.

Gurinder Sandhu removed Hughes for 30 off 23 balls, but Babar anchored the chase calmly. Josh Philippe chipped in with 16, while captain Moises Henriques added a brisk 23 to keep the innings on track.

After the fall of the fourth wicket, Babar Azam found a reliable partner in Joel Davies. The duo stitched together an unbeaten 51-run stand to take the Sixers home in 19.1 overs.

Babar finished on 58 not out from 46 balls, striking four fours and a six, while Davies sealed the chase with an unbeaten 34 off 15, including three fours and two sixes.

For Renegades, Sandhu picked up two wickets, while Will Sutherland and Matthew Spoors claimed one each.

The win marked Sydney Sixers’ second victory of the season, lifting them to fifth on the BBL points table. Melbourne Renegades, meanwhile, remain seventh with just one win, sitting above only Sydney Thunder.

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ADELAIDE: Veteran batter Chris Lynn rolled back the clock with his sublime hitting, whereas Hasan Ali bowled a clinical spell, propelling Adelaide Strikers to a seven-wicket victory over Brisbane Heat in the 17th fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Set 122, Strikers romped to a victory in 14.1 overs with seven wickets in hand.

Chris Lynn and skipper Matthew Short made light work of the chase, adding 51 in 7.1 overs. Short perished after scoring 19 off 27.

Meanwhile, Lynn continued the charge and reached his record, extending a 32nd BBL half-century.

The second and third wickets fell in quick time with Mackenzie Harvey and Jerrssis Wadia dismissed for 11 and one respectively, reducing Adelaide Strikers to 95-3 in 12.1 overs.

However, Lynn’s sublime hitting continued, which kept Brisbane Heat bowlers at bay and propelled his side over the finishing line.

The right-hander remained unbeaten on 79 from 4, striking half a dozen fours and the same number of maximums. In doing so, he also became the first batter in the tournament’s history to reach the 4000-run mark.

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For Brisbane Heat, Xavier Bartlett, Oli Patterson, and Thomas Balkin picked up one wicket each.

With this, Adelaide Strikers recorded their first victory on New Year’s Eve since 2018.

Earlier, after opting to field first, the home side skittled Brisbane Heat for a mere 121 in 19.4 overs.

Strikers inflicted a miserable start on Heat as half of their side was sent back inside powerplay.

Colin Munro (4), Jack Wildermuth (5), Lachlan Hearne (2), Matt Renshaw (6), and Max Bryant (1) were sent back in a cheap manner, which left Brisbane Heat 21-5 at the end of the powerplay.

With an early hiccup, Hugh Weibgen and Jimmy Peirson tried to arrest the slide with a brief 26-run partnership. However, another two wickets in quick succession put them in a familiar state of recovery.

Peirson made 13 off 12 before Weibgen took the scorecard over the 100-run mark with a 36* run partnership alongside Matthew Kuhnemann, who remained the top scorer with 31 off 22 balls.

Eventually, the whole side was bundled out for a below-par score.

For Adelaide Strikers, Jamie Overton remained the pick of the bowlers alongside Liam Scott and Hasan Ali, who picked two scalps each.

READ: Pakistan Cricket in 2025: A Year Caught Between Transition and Promise

SYDNEY: Ashton Turner’s gutsy 99* followed by an all-round bowling performance, powered Perth Scorchers to a big 71-run victory over Sydney Thunder in the 16th match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Set a daunting 203, Sydney Thunder were skittled for a mere 131 in 17.3 overs.

Skipper David Warner, who promoted himself to open the innings alongside Matthew Gilkes, provided a rapid start in pursuit of the chase.

The pair put on a 60-run partnership before a middle-order collapse left them reeling. Warner departed after scoring 21, while Matthew Gilkes followed him soon after for 33.

As a result, Thunder were reduced to 61-2 in 7.3 overs as Cameron Bancroft and Sam Konstas tried to put chase back on the track with a brief 20-run stand.

Yet again, it was a two-wicket over from Cooper Connolly that put Thunder in dire straits. Bancroft (2) and Sam Billings (0) were removed in consecutive deliveries.

The upcoming wickets also fell in a heap, with Shadab Khan not adding much to the scorecard.

Shadab Khan made four before getting caught.

As a result, Thunder slumped from 81-3 to 104-6 in 13 overs and then all out for a modest total.

For Perth Scorchers, it was an all-round performance with Joel Paris, Brody Couch, Aaron Hardie, and Cooper Connolly each scalping two wickets.

Earlier, after being put into bat, Perth Scorchers racked up a massive total of 202-8 at the end of their 20 overs.

Mitchell Marsh’s poor run continued as he went for six, followed by Finn Allen’s wicket, who made 11, which put Scorchers in early trouble with 18-2 in 3.2 overs.

Josh Inglis also fell after scoring 13 as the scorecard read 34-3 in 5.3 overs.

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However, it was a 76-run partnership between Ashton Turner and Cooper Connolly that lifted them out of trouble.

Turner particularly played a lone hand and contributed down the order to propel his side to a massive score at the end of their innings.

Connolly made 27 while Turner returned unbeaten on 99 from 41 balls, with the aid of eight sixes and the same number of fours.

For Sydney Thunder, Daniel Sams picked up a four-wicket haul while giving away 51 in his quota of four overs.

READ: Shaheen Afridi ruled out of BBL 15 due to injury

Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has been ruled out of the remainder of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15, a decision he confirmed via his social handle on Tuesday.

Playing for Brisbane Heat, Shaheen bowled three overs during his side’s fixture against Adelaide Strikers on Saturday, 27 December, before getting off the field

The left-arm pacer limped off while pointing to his right knee during the 14th over of the Strikers’ run chase.

Earlier, Brisbane Heat released a statement regarding his injury, stating that the pacer has begun his rehab program and will miss the next fixture.

“Shaheen Shah Afridi (knee) commenced rehab and will be further reviewed upon the team’s return from Adelaide,” the team wrote on its Facebook page.

“Tom Alsop (knee) resumed training yesterday and will be reviewed again on 1 January. Nathan McSweeney (ankle) resumed training, including batting and running; has travelled with the squad to Adelaide and will train again ahead of tomorrow night’s match,” the statement added.

However, Shaheen has confirmed that he has been recalled by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and thanked Heat fans for supporting him throughout his time in Australia.

“I’m massively thankful to the Brisbane Heat team and fans for showering me with immense love and support,” he wrote on his X post.

“Due to an unexpected injury, I have been called back by the PCB and will have to take a rehab. Hopefully, I will be back in the fields soon. Meanwhile, I will be cheering for the amazing team.”

It is pertinent to mention that Shaheen Afridi is not part of the Pakistan T20I squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The pacer alongside Babar Azam were not included in the refreshed squad due to their commitment in the BBL 15.

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