CLT20: Sydney crush Yorkshire

Cape Town - Australian side Sydney Sixers notched their second consecutive win in the Champions League Twenty20 with a dominating eight-wicket win over Yorkshire of England here on Tuesday.

Sydney Sixers, who beat Indian Premier League team Chennai Super Kings in their first match, had little difficulty chasing down Yorkshire’s score of 96 for nine.

Former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin put together a 78-run stand off 42 balls with Englishman Michael Lumb as the Sixers scored 98 for two in just 8.5 overs.

Young pacer Mitchell Starc impressed with figures of three for 22.

Yorkshire, who elected to bat, got off to a rollicking start as former Australian opener Phil Jacques (21) hit some early boundaries. But the joy for the English team was shortlived as the Sydney bowlers came back strongly.

Jacques wicket in the seventh over started Yorkshire’s downfall. Joe Root, who was the top scorer for his team with 25 off 24 balls fell to Moses Henriques with the score on 62 in the 13th over.

From then on in Yorkshire could manage only 32 runs in eight overs, losing six wickets.

Shane Watson (11), who will soon be returning home to train with the Australia’s national side, failed to fire with the bat but chipped in with two wickets.

Watson’s wicket must have put some panic in the Sydney dressing room but Haddin’s whirlwind innings calmed the nerves down.

Haddin (41) was the main aggressor and was well supported by Lumb (43 not out). Lumb finished the match in style hitting Azeem Rafiq for two consecutive fours.