Scorchers off the mark in Sydney

Updated December 16, 2012 23:25:00

The Sydney Sixers' golden Twenty20 run came to an abrupt end on Sunday as the Perth Scorchers began their road to recovery by cruising to victory in the Big Bash League grand final rematch at the SCG.

In a game where anything can happen, the Sixers' 12-match winning streak was something to behold.

But Sunday's seven-wicket loss proved even the world's best can have a shocker in the T20 form, as the Sixers suffered a devastating early collapse before turning in a sloppy effort in the field defending their modest total of 9 for 113.

Led by a 51-run opening stand by Herschelle Gibbs (40 from 42) and Shaun Marsh, the Scorchers chased down the total with four balls remaining to record their first win of the season and get themselves off the bottom of the ladder.

Things got a little tight for the Scorchers towards the end, until captain Simon Katich came to the crease with his side needing 12 from 12 and smashed a six off the first ball he faced.

Since the Sixers beat Perth in last summer's BBL grand final, the Sydney-siders went from strength to strength to be crowned Champions League kings in October.

The Scorchers on the other hand made headlines for all the wrong reasons in the tournament held in South Africa - failing to get out of the group stage and finding themselves embroiled in off-field controversy after an alcohol-fuelled night out.

Perth promised to make things right in the BBL and Sunday's breakthrough win after back-to-back losses to open the tournament proved the West Australians cared about restoring pride.

It is Justin Langer's first win as coach since taking over as Warriors and Scorchers mentor in mid-November.

Just four nights ago the Scorchers were skittled for a BBL-low 69 in an emphatic, albeit controversial loss to the Melbourne Stars in Perth.

But this time it was their turn to decimate an opposition, as they left the Sixers reeling for 5 for 18 and 6 for 28, before allowing the tail to score 42 runs from the final five overs.

The Scorchers' triumph after winning the toss meant the chasing team has now won nine out of nine times this BBL season.

Alfonso Thomas, Michael Beer and Hilton Cartwright took two wickets each for the Scorchers, with Brad Haddin (10) the only batsman out of Sydney's top six to reach double figures.

Beer said it was do-or-die for the Scorchers.

"If we didn't win we were out of the competition pretty much, so we had to be right up for it," he said.

"We let ourselves down the other night so we had to do it.

"Confidence probably wasn't there but we made a commitment to each other that we were going to go out and have fun and back ourselves and not be scared.

"(The Sixers) are world champions so it's a feather in our cap to beat them."

Sixers all-rounder Stephen O'Keefe, who top-scored for his team with 29 and also snared a wicket, said it was Sydney's worst ever performance.

O'Keefe said his side still believed they could defend the total, but dropping Gibbs twice in successive balls at 1 for 74 ended any chance of a miracle.

"We scrapped out 113 which I thought was going to be competitive, but we just didn't turn up," he said.

"It was probably in my short stint here at the Sixers, our worst overall performance as a side. We definitely didn't deserve to win that match."

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted December 16, 2012 22:13:54

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First women's ODI washed out in Sydney

Updated January 25, 2012 17:19:03

The opening fixture in the three-match women's one-day international cricket series between Australia and New Zealand at the SCG has been abandoned due to wet weather.

Only 22.3 overs could be bowled in the game with New Zealand 2 for 100 when play was delayed for the second and final time.

The series heads to Sydney's west with matches two and three to be played in Blacktown on Friday and Sunday.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted January 25, 2012 17:19:03

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Clarke ready to bowl in Sydney

Updated January 02, 2012 21:10:22

Australia captain Michael Clarke is convinced spin will play a big factor in the second Test at the SCG and is prepared to inject himself into the bowling and re-live Indian nightmares if the match gets tight.

When Australia last played India in Sydney in 2008, Clarke was thrown into the attack in the dying overs of the match and took three wickets in five balls to clinch a remarkable win for Ricky Ponting's team.

Despite his pesky left-arm orthodox deliveries yielding 23 wickets at 37.47, making him a more than adequate part-timer, Clarke rolled the arm over just three times in 2011.

The skipper has suffered from chronic back problems throughout his career and bowled a combined total of just 15 overs last year.

But after backing full-time turner Nathan Lyon to play a huge role in the second Test starting on Tuesday, Clarke declared he is ready to chip in on the final days.

"We'll wait and see how the wicket deteriorates as well ... if required I'd be more than happy to bowl, I've always enjoyed bowling," Clarke said.

"I haven't done much of it in recent times but that's because our bowlers have done their job so if required and if the wicket does spin Nathan Lyon will play a big part and I can bowl a few overs for sure."

Clarke made no changes to personnel after the convincing win in Melbourne, declining to call up recovered pace weapon Ryan Harris, as he puts his faith in spin being vital as the match goes on.

Lyon has made a brilliant start to his Test career, but struggled in Melbourne, taking just one wicket in the second innings.

"This series is a tough challenge for 'Lyono' because India are such good players of spin bowling," Clarke said.

"I thought he did a pretty good job without getting as many wickets as he would have liked in the last Test.

"I don't want to put too much pressure on [him], I love the way he goes about his work."

Clarke says he was privileged to be leading out the Australian side on his home ground as the SCG joins the MCG and Lord's, as the only venues in world cricket to host 100 Test matches.

Australia has been plagued by inconsistency over the past 12 months and Clarke says the team was focused on putting together strong back-to-back performances.

"We've played some really positive cricket at times and some cricket we'd like to forget and I guess this is another test of our character to be able to back up after such an impressive win in Melbourne," he said.

"The chance to captain Australia is very special in the 100th Test match here, so I think that will sink in over the next 24 hours."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, australia

First posted January 02, 2012 21:10:22

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