Abbott, Botha cameos put Sixers in semis
Sean Abbott's unbeaten 33 and Johan Botha's 25 rescued Sydney Sixers from 6 for 97 and helped the team seal a chase of 157 with an over to spare
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Rob Quiney and Wright both stroked their first balls through the covers for four, and looked set to rack up a huge total. Quiney went after Johan Botha and smote Sean Abbott over long-on for six. After he fell to the final ball of the Powerplay - caught at short fine leg off Moises Henriques' first over of the tournament - Wright kicked on while Kevin Pietersen accumulated. The England pair put on 71 and, on a belting pitch, 128 for 1, with five overs left in the innings, looked a very strong position.
Nathan Lyon started with a wide, but barely put a foot wrong thereafter, and played a vital role in the Stars' stall. He tossed the ball up and gave it a rip, and went for only 18 runs in four overs. In the Sixers' chase, Liam Bowe, the left-arm wristspinner, produced three outstanding overs - and even dismissed Moises Henriques - but was picked apart in his fourth, which turned the game.
Brad Haddin, miked up by Channel Ten, began his evening by making a joke about the Brad Hodge controversy and his funny old evening continued. He stumped Gulbis via a triple-fumble, then off his helmet (which is legal in the BBL) took a wonderful one-handed diving catch to get rid of Gotch. Haddin's innings was skittish too, and it happened in the middle of the Sixers' collapse. He fell for 10 in the 14th over when he holed out to long-on. Two balls later, Nic Maddinson was caught at backward point, extending his poor form, and the Sixers' season looked over.
Everyone knows Abbott can bat, but he had not shown it so far this season. When he ambled to the crease, he had three more wickets (16, the most in the competition) than runs this season, and six of his 13 had come in one shot to beat the Heat. Here, he played a blinder. He knew that the Stars have struggled to replace John Hastings at the death, and that Michael Beer and Liam Bowe had an over each. He went after both Bowe and Beer. By then, the game was up; Ben Hilfenhaus was flayed for 12 too. In finishing terms, this was a mini-masterpiece.
It was a bad day for Melbourne in the BBL. Had the Stars won by 33 runs - a distinct possibility when Maddinson fell - they would have finished top. Instead, they slid to fourth. The Renegades finished fifth, and Sixers - who were top before their derby drubbing by Thunder a week ago - moved to third. As a result, if they and the Stars win their semi-finals, the SCG will host the final.
Will Macpherson writes on cricket for the Guardian, ESPNcricinfo and All Out Cricket. @willis_macp