Adelaide Strikers claimed their first win at the SCG since 2017, chasing down 160 with four balls to spare to beat Sydney Sixers by three wickets in a gripping BBL contest.
Jamie Overton produced a standout all-round display, taking 2 for 22 before contributing a crucial 30 off 20 balls in the chase. Luke Wood (3-26) and Liam Scott (51 off 32) also played key roles as the Strikers held their nerve in a tense finish.
Sydney Sixers were restricted to 159 for 9 despite promising conditions, with Josh Philippe top-scoring with 46. Babar Azam’s slow start to his BBL campaign continued, as he managed just 9 off 10 balls, edging another subdued outing after his low score on debut in Perth.
Strikers struck regularly with the ball, as Wood, Overton, and Lloyd Pope combined to derail Sixers’ momentum. Hasan Ali endured a difficult BBL debut, conceding 36 runs without a wicket, while wickets fell at regular intervals despite brief resistance from Jack Edwards.
In reply, early strikes removed Matthew Short and Chris Lynn, but Scott steadied the innings with a composed half-century. Overton’s calm presence late in the chase ensured there were no final stumbles, sealing an impressive opening win for Adelaide as the Sixers slipped to 0–2 to start the season.
A moment of silence was observed before play to honour the victims of the Bondi terror attack, with heightened security in place at the SCG.
