The Sydney Sixers have officially booked their ticket to the Big Bash League final after a dominant 57-run victory over the Hobart Hurricanes at the SCG. Led by a vintage performance from Steven Smith and a breakout all-round display from youngster Joel Davies, the Sixers proved too clinical for a depleted Hurricanes side.
The win sets up a mouth-watering championship clash against the Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium this Sunday—marking the sixth time these two rivals will battle for the title.
Steven Smith’s Masterclass Puts Selectors on Notice
Opening the batting, Steven Smith was once again the focal point of the Sixers’ innings. He paced his knock beautifully, scoring 65 off 43 balls, including a flurry of boundaries that kept the run rate climbing. Smith reached his half-century in just 31 deliveries, sparking renewed debate over whether Australia should “parachute” him into the T20 World Cup squad before the January 31 deadline.
While the Sixers looked destined for a total well north of 200 when they were 120-2, Hurricanes spinner Rishad Hossain provided a brief fightback. Rishad claimed the massive wicket of Smith—bowled while attempting a reverse switch—and followed it up by removing Moises Henriques. Despite the wobble, late cameos from Joel Davies (27 off 12) and Lachlan Shaw (21 off 13) propelled the Sixers to a formidable 198-8.
Joel Davies Shines as Hurricanes’ Title Defense Ends in Frustration
The chase never truly got off the ground for Hobart. Missing key leaders Nathan Ellis and Chris Jordan (who played as a specialist batter due to injury), the Hurricanes struggled against a high-velocity opening spell from Mitchell Starc. Clocked at a blistering 149kph, Starc removed Mitchell Owen early and set a physical tone that the Hurricanes middle order couldn’t match.
The star of the second innings, however, was Joel Davies. After his quick-fire batting cameo, the young left-arm spinner dismantled the Hurricanes’ hopes with the ball and in the field:
- The Breakthrough: He had Nikhil Chaudhary caught at long-off.
- The Highlight: He took a spectacular, diving return catch to dismiss the dangerous Matthew Wade.
- The Closer: He punctuated his night with a superb catch in the deep to remove stand-in captain Ben McDermott.
As the asking rate spiraled, Beau Webster labored to 24 off 27 balls, and a flurry of wickets quickly ended the contest. For the Hurricanes, it was a disappointing end to a season that fell apart in the final weeks, punctuated by on-field frustrations and a lack of DRS reviews when they needed them most.
The Sixers now head west to face the Scorchers in what has become the definitive rivalry of the BBL era.
