Sixers' miracle last-ball wicket stuns cricket world
The Sydney Sixers have won through to the WBBL final after two incredible pieces of fielding on the final ball, followed by a comfortable Super Over victory over the Melbourne Renegades.
Requiring three runs off the last delivery in their allotted 20 overs, the Renegades almost had the winning runs – twice.
But the ball was stopped on the boundary by Erin Burns, and Sydney wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy’s magnificent throw on the turn dismissed Sophie Molineux to tie the match.
I've never seen a better day of cricket than I've seen today. Incredible. #WBBL04
— Kristy Williams (@kristywill_1101) January 19, 2019
This is absolutely incredible #WBBL04 https://t.co/WbeuRBqIih
— Alistair Hogg (@AlistairICC) January 19, 2019
That throw to the stumps from Alyssa Healy was top class!!! #WBBL04 #smashemsixers
— Terri (@ItsMeTezz) January 19, 2019
I’ve harped on about how great a fielder Erin Burns is all summer with @LadiesWhoLeague. And she’s just proved it with that effort! Saves a four – JUST – on the final ball of the Gades innings. Now we’re heading to a Super Over. @WBBL again playing havoc with my heart 😂 #WBBL04
— Brittany Carter (@_BrittanyCarter) January 19, 2019
What a bloody save, Erin Burns. #WBBL04
— Alicia Newton (@anewts91) January 19, 2019
Cricket at its best. What a last ball in both games! Extraordinary #WBBL04
— Richard Braack (@Rix_FoxSports) January 19, 2019
It was a sublime all-round performance from Ellyse Perry that propelled the Sixers to the epic win.
In front of 3500 fans at Sydney’s Drummoyne Oval, Perry crunched Molly Strano for a six with two balls remaining in the super over to steer the two-time reigning champions into their fourth consecutive grand final after scores were tied at the end of 40 overs.
The Renegades had only managed 1-4 in their six-ball slog.
In regulation, the Renegades needed three from the last ball to overhaul the Sixers 4-131 to win off the ill-fated last ball.
The Sixers now play the Brisbane Heat, who beat the Sydney Thunder by four runs with their own impressive piece of fielding:
The Renegades looked in big trouble early in the chase when they slumped to 3-19 inside the powerplay.
Perry (1-20) was terrific with the new ball, conceding two runs from her first two overs and castling Emma Inglis for a duck.
The Sixers skipper also ran out Renegades captain Amy Satterthwaite (2) with a bullet throw and took a fine running catch to get rid of the dangerous Jess Duffin (41) who had bravely resurrected the Renegades’ innings before Molineux almost completed a last-ditch miracle.
Earlier, Perry stood firm with the bat while the rest of the Sixers top order crumbled.
They were in strife at 3-19 after Healy holed out for one, Ash Gardner edged Leah Tahuhu to Satterthwaite at slip for four and Burns was run out for a duck following a mix-up with Perry.
That soon became 5-33 in the ninth before Perry – with an unbeaten 54 from 59 balls – and Dane van Nierkerk (51 not out off 36) dug the Sixers out of a massive hole.
The pair’s 98-run unbroken stand for the fifth wicket spared the home side complete humiliation.
The Sixers skipper paid tribute to South African international van Niekerk.
“Dane with the bat today was phenomenal. She got us back in the game.”
with AAP