Clinical Sixers cruise to victory

Sydney Sixers 4 for 148 (Carters 30*, Silk 29*, Hopes 2-23) beat Brisbane Heat 6 for 147 (Forrest 62*, Flintoff 46, Lee 2-29) by six wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Sydney Sixers made light work of a 148-run chase against Brisbane Heat in Woollongabba, as their top and middle-order batsmen all chipped in with handy knocks to complete a six-wicket win. The victory took Sixers to eight points in the table, more or less sealing a spot in the top four, while Heat were consigned to their fifth defeat in six matches.

The Sixers' attacking intent in the chase was clear right from the off, as the opener Nic Maddinson slammed two fours and a six in the first two overs before falling for 15. Sixers, however, were unperturbed and kept the score ticking through a 53-run, second-wicket partnership between Michael Lumb and Riki Wessels. Heat briefly fought back with three quick wickets in a four-over period, but their bowlers never really looked threatening, allowing the fifth-wicket pair of Jordan Silk and Ryan Carters to collect singles and find the boundaries with ease.

The pair put up an unbroken 57 runs for the fifth wicket, with Silk scoring 29 and Carters making 30, as Sixers raced home inside 18 overs. The Heat bowlers all went at more than six an over, with Ryan Duffield in particular coming in for special treatment, ending with figures of 3-0-32-0.

The result meant that Peter Forrest's unbeaten 62 in the first innings was in vain. Forrest blasted fours fours and a six during his 56-ball knock, and added 93 for the fifth wicket with Andrew Flintoff, as Heat, having been inserted, posted 6 for 147 from their 20 overs. Flintoff's 32-ball 46 was his highest score in what has so far been a quiet tournament for the former England allrounder, but Heat were ultimately made to pay for a shaky start which saw them stumble to 4 for 33 by the seventh over. Brett Lee and Moises Henriques picked up two wickets apiece for the Sixers, while Doug Bollinger contributed with the scalp of Chris Lynn.