SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite was brilliant with the ball as Sydney Thunder won their third straight with an eight-wicket triumph over crosstown rivals, Sydney Sixers, to keep alive their hopes of a playoff spot in the Big Bash League here yesterday.
Playing in only his second game since arriving to replace injured Windies teammate, Andre Russell, the Barbadian snatched three for 21 from four overs of clever medium pace to help restrict
Sixers to a paltry 99 for nine, in front of nearly 40 000 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
In reply, the reigning champions cruised to their target with 10 overs remaining, to continue their resurgence following a four-game losing streak to open the tournament.
Opting to bat first, Sixers were quickly in trouble when they lost openers Michael Lumb (11) and top-scorer Daniel Hughes (20) cheaply to be 36 for two in the sixth over.
Brathwaite and leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed, who was outstanding with four for 14 from his four overs, then combined to wreck the innings.
Right-armer Brathwaite claimed wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (4), caught at mid-wicket in the 10th over; Johan Botha bowled for three, playing across the line in the 14th over before having Nathan Lyon caught in the deep for nine in the 18th over.
Opener Kurtis Patterson then stroked an unbeaten 38 from 26 balls in a 54-run opening stand with James Vince who hit 28, to put Thunder in charge.
When Vince and Shane Watson (4) fell in the sixth over to pacer Sean Abbott, Patterson and Ben Rohrer, unbeaten on 26, put on 41 in an unbroken third wicket stand to see their side home.