Ricky Ponting's second successive half-century led Hobart to a seven-wicket victory over Sydney in the Big Bash League at the SCG on Boxing Day.
The former Australian captain ended up unbeaten on 63 off 52 balls, as the Hurricanes chased down the Sixers' 8 for 154 to secure their third victory of the season.
Hobart was on pace for victory throughout its chase before a six from Ponting off former team-mate Brett Lee in the 16th over led to a change of ball which the visitors found much harder to get away in the face of sudden prodigious swing.
The following three overs from Luke Feldman, Moises Henriques and Sunil Narine conceded just 13 runs meaning the Hurricanes still needed eight runs off the last over, but consecutive fours from Owais Shah (13 not out) gave them victory with a ball to spare.
Batting in his customary number three spot, having previously opened, Ponting put on 84 for the second wicket with Aiden Blizzard (48).
Feldman (2 for 21) was the pick of the Sixers bowlers rattling the stumps of both Blizzard and Travis Birt (18).
Earlier the Sixers' top five all got starts but failed to turn them into match-winning contributions.
Michael Lumb provided the perfect platform hitting 34 off 22 balls before falling leg before to Xavier Doherty.
Ben Laughlin put himself at the top of the tournaments wicket takers' list with 4 for 31 taking the crucial wickets of Henriques (18) and Steven Smith (34).
Laughlin's return to the attack at the end of the innings, in partnership with Doug Bollinger (1 for 20), led to the Sixers posting a total which always looked below par.
The Hurricanes move level on points with second-place Adelaide and the Melbourne Stars, while a top-four finish looks an uphill task for the champion Sixers who have won just one game this year.
Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, sydney-2000, hobart-7000 First posted December 26, 2012 22:20:40
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