NIC Maddinson’s Sydney Sixers drew level with Brisbane atop the Big Bash table after a thrilling last-over win, as a nasty blow to the head of wicketkeeper Peter Nevill compounded a night of frustration for the Melbourne Renegades.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Nevill was forced off the ground for a concussion test in the 10th over after fielding a throw which skidded off the rain-affected Sydney Cricket Ground centre wicket, and bounced sharply into the front of his unprotected head.
Captain Aaron Finch took the gloves after a five-minute delay for eight balls before Nevill was cleared of concussion and allowed to return to the playing arena.
All he could do was sit back and watch as the Sixers chased down his side's 6-170 with just three balls to spare thanks to a late cameo by Brad Haddin, who finished with 31 not out after expertly navigating the nine runs required off the final over.
The game finished in bizarre fashion as Haddin belted a free hit to long on and helped himself to two runs despite being caught on the boundary.
Sydney had shared the workload between Dan Hughes (41), Michael Lumb (31), Maddinson (26) and Moises Henriques (30) before Haddin closed it out.
Earlier, Luke Dwarshuis took three wickets for the Sixers with dropped Australian opener Finch led the way for the Renegades scoring a hard-run 57 from 44 balls.
Unusually, he only managed three boundaries and a six in his second BBL innings since being told his services weren't required for the forthcoming one-day international series against Pakistan.
But it wasn't enough in front of a blockbuster crowd of 30,702 who witnessed the BBL return of Test duo Jackson Bird and Nathan Lyon, but not Steve O'Keefe who has been withdrawn from the rest of the competition to prepare for the upcoming tour of India.
Earlier on, Alyssa Healy continued her blistering form with the bat this summer, using husband Mitchell Starc's bat to hammer 46 off 31 balls as the Sixers' women notched a sixth-straight WBBL win.
Healy managed six fours and crunched one over the rope as the Sixers chased down Perth's 9-129 with three balls to spare, cementing themselves atop the WBBL ladder where they're now two wins clear of the second-placed Hobart Hurricanes.
Ellyse Perry combined once again with Healy at the top of the order scoring 38 herself with the pair putting on another half century opening stand.
Lauren Smith inflicted the initial damage taking 4-23 off her four overs as the Scorchers struggled to find runs at the SCG.
The win follows on from Sunday's 12-run triumph over Perth ahead of Friday's top-of-the-table mouth waterer against Hobart at North Sydney Oval.
