Spirited Sydney Sixers defeated Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (BBL) final on Saturday to lift the season nine trophy at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Here are your #BBL09 CHAMPIONS! Congrats @SixersBBL pic.twitter.com/iAhfzfYeLD
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) February 8, 2020
The match was off to a delayed start due to persistent rain in Sydney. It was finally decided it would be a 12-overs-a-side contest, and the Stars won the bat flip and opted to bowl first.
Opener Josh Philippe scored 52 while Steve Smith made 21 to get them going. Jordan Silk’s 27 off 15 balls down the order then helped the Sixers post a total of 116-5.
Among bowlers, Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe picked up two wickets each, but Josh Hazlewood’s spell hurt the Stars the most. In his quota of three overs, Hazlewood gave just 18 runs and took the wicket of opener Nic Maddinson. Among Lyon’s wickets were Marcus Stoinis and Ben Dunk while O’Keefe dismissed Stars captain Glenn Maxwell and wicketkeeper Seb Gotch.
The GOAT is now a BBL Champion! #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/a4WG1dYHZ2
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) February 8, 2020
The Stars were in the end restricted to 97/6, thus handing the Sixers a 19-run win.
Only rain here is the confetti 🏆 #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/EDC82vQAJ1
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) February 8, 2020
Brief scores: Sydney Sixers 116/5 in 12 overs (Josh Philippe 52, Jordan Silk 27; Glenn Maxwell 2/17) vs Melbourne Stars 97/6 in 12 overs (Nick Larkin 38, Nathan Coulter-Nile 19; Nathan Lyon 2/19).
