Big Bash League 2023-24: Top run-getters and wicket-takers after Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunders ft. David Warner and Steve O’Keefe
Sydney Sixers confirmed their qualification for the playoffs after beating Sydney Thunders by 19 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday, January 12. The Sixers were put under pressure while they were batting and could only muster 151 runs.
Steve Smith opened the innings and got out for a first-ball duck but James Vince (27) and Phillipe (47) steadied things with a 59-run partnership. However, once the stand was broken, the Sixers lost momentum and wickets fell in short intervals.
Courtesy of Silk’s crucial 35-run knock off 29 balls in the latter half of the innings, Sydney Sixers managed to reach a respectable score on the board. In reply, Alex Hales and David Warner got off to a wonderful start as the duo added 44 runs for the opening wicket.
But the arrival of Steve O’Keefe changed things dramatically as he sent both Alex Carey and Bancroft back to the hut in the fifth over of the innings. Wickets continued to fall in short intervals, thereafter and David Warner was left stranded on the other hand.
In the end, Sydney Thunders were bowled out for 132 runs, handing a 19-run win to the second-placed team. O’Keefe returned with match-winning figures of three for 13 in four overs.
Big Bash League 2023-24 Most Runs List:
Mathew Short continued to assert his dominance at the top of the run-scoring charts. He has 435 runs to his name in eight matches at an average of 62.14. Chris Lynn is closely following him at number two with 304 runs under his belt in just seven games.
At No. 3 is Aaron Hardie, who has scored 287 runs in eight matches so far at an average of 47.83. Brisbane Heat batter, Colin Munro has been in decent touch. He has managed to score 224 runs in seven matches and, thus finds himself at No. 4.
James Vince has now moved to number five on the run-tally. In 8 matches, he has 222 runs at an average of 31.71. Darcy Short slips to sixth place with 216 runs under his belt, followed by the likes of Bancroft (216), Jake Fraser-McGurk (215), and Alex Hales (215) at No. 7, 8, and 9, respectively.
Ben McDermott rounds off the top 10 with 211 runs in seven matches at an average of 42.20.
Big Bash League 2023-24 Most Wickets List
Xavier Bartlett is at the top of the tally with 15 wickets under his name in seven matches. Jamie Overton has 13 wickets in eight matches and finds himself at No. 2. Closely following him are Paul Walter at No. 3 and Daniel Sams at No. 4. Both have wickets each to their name in the tournament.
At No. 5 is Jason Behrendorff with 11 wickets in seven matches. He is followed by the likes of Lance Morris (10), Nathan Ellis (10), and Jack Edwards (9) in sixth, seventh, and eighth positions, respectively.
Spencer Johnson is at number nine with nine wickets under his name in seven matches, while B Dwarshuis is languishing at No. 10 with nine wickets in eight games.