The Sydney Sixers have secured a legendary win at North Sydney Oval today over the Adelaide Strikers, propelling them into the WBBL | 11 Challenger on Thursday.
In a dramatic finale to the regular season, the Sixers edged out the Strikers by just 1 run — finishing on 173/4 after their 20 overs, while the Strikers reached 172/7 chasing 174.
The win earns the Sixers a place in the WBBL Finals for the first time in three years.
Player of the Match Ellyse Perry was sublime: smashing a pure 111 runs off 71 balls, including 16 fours and 3 sixes.
Perry also brought up 5000 WBBL runs across her career during her innings, as just the second player ever to achieve such an accomplishment.
Perry shared a terrific opening stand with Sophia Dunkley, who contributed 54 from 40 balls, helping build a strong total before the rest of the lineup faltered.
Despite losing the bat flip, the Sixers finished their batting innings at 173/4, it looked a formidable target.
The Strikers’ response was anchored by Bridget Patterson, who smashed an unbeaten 65 off 35 balls, scoring important boundaries and keeping her side alive deep into the chase.
Adelaide started cautiously by the 10-over mark they were only 60 for 2, but Patterson’s acceleration changed the course of the innings.
The Strikers batting performance managed to send the game into the last ball of the last over.
In the final over of the match, Captain Gardner backed herself with the ball. The Strikers needed just 18 runs from that over to win.
However, it began disastrously for the Sixers: the first three balls from Gardner were dispatched by Patterson for two fours and a six, thus leaving the Strikers requiring just 4 runs off 3 balls.
On the fourth ball, Patterson attempted a reverse-sweep but missed, providing crucial reprieve for the Sixers, leaving 4 runs needed off 2 balls.
On the fifth delivery, Gardner cleanly bowled Amanda-Jade Wellington, who was dismissed for 31, in a vital wicket that shifted momentum.
The final ball of the match saw the new batter and former Sixer Sophie Ecclestone walk to the crease, requiring 3 off 1.
Ecclestone chipped Gardner’s ball away through the bowler’s end, racing for an attempt at a second run that would have tied the game, but a sharp fielding and an outstanding run-out effort from Australian Captain Alyssa Healy ended the match with a run-out at the keeper’s end, sealing a one-run victory for the Sixers.
A heroic victory of historic proportions to secure second spot on the ladder for the Sydney Sixers in WBBL | 11.
Sydney Sixers Captain Ash Gardner said the game demonstrated the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket.
“Probably through the later part of the tournament we kind of had teams where we wanted them and then through that middle period, we let that slip. And it kinda happened today.
“North Sydney is one of those grounds where you never really feel that you’re out of it and it showed today.
“We left it right down to the wire and thankfully we were on the better side of it.”
The Sydney Sixers will host the WBBL Challenger this Thursday at North Sydney Oval against the winner of Perth Scorcher v Melbourne Stars in the WBBL Knockout on Tuesday.
The Weber WBBL|11 Finals schedule is:
The Knockout | Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars,
Tuesday, December 9, 7:45pm AEDT, WACA Ground
The Challenger | Sydney Sixers v winner of The Knockout
Thursday, December 11, 7:15pm AEDT, North Sydney Oval
The Final | Hobart Hurricanes v winner of The Challenger
Saturday, December 13, 7:15pm AEDT, Ninja Stadium
Tickets to all WBBL|11 Finals matches go on sale tomorrow (Monday) from 10:00am local time for club members and 12:00pm to the public in each market, at www.bigbash.com.au.
Every Finals match will be broadcast live on Seven, 7plus, Kayo Sports and Foxtel, with radio coverage on ABC Sport and SEN.
Tickets for the WBBL Challenger and BBL Regular Season are on sale now via the Sydney Sixers Website.