Abbott and Babar help Sixers preserve winning streak over Renegades
The Melbourne side was beaten by their Sydney rivals for the 10th successive time
AAP
01-Jan-2026 • 3 hrs ago
Sean Abbott picked up 3 for 16 in four overs • Getty Images
Sydney Sixers 168 for 4 (Babar 58, Davies 34*, Sandhu 2-23) beat Melbourne Renegades 164 for 9 (Brown 43, Abbott 3-16) by six wickets
The Sydney Sixers have made it 10-straight BBL wins over the Melbourne Renegades, registering a crucial six-wicket victory on New Year's Day at Marvel Stadium.
The Sixers' record of having not lost to the Renegades since 2019 was under threat as they stumbled to 69 for 2 after 10 overs in their chase of 165.
But a huge power surge from Pakistan star Babar Azam (58* from 46 balls) and captain Moises Henriques (23) helped blast the Sixers towards the total for just their second win of the tournament.
Joel Davies (34* from 15 balls) played a crucial cameo for his highest BBL score following Henriques' dismissal, taking pressure off Babar who had dropped anchor early in the chase. The pair did it easy in the end, Babar hitting the winning runs with a lofted cover drive for four with five balls to spare. After a slow start to his stint in the BBL, the Pakistan batter has found form with two fifties in his last three matches.
On a tricky pitch and painfully slow outfield at Marvel Stadium, the Renegades threatened to get away through opener Josh Brown after being sent in to bat. Taking 22 off Ben Dwarshuis's first over - third of the innings - Brown smashed 43 off 19 balls, including four sixers, before falling to Hayden Kerr. The Renegades were 54 for 1 from five overs and eyeing a big total before Brown was dismissed.
Allrounder Sean Abbott was the rock with the ball, managing a seriously economic 3 for 16 from his four overs to claim Player-of-the-Match honours.
"It was a pretty tough wicket there (for batting)," Abbott told Fox Cricket. "Babar had to go through a few different stages in that innings, but once we got up and going with a couple of partnerships, it looked like he did it in first gear."
The infamous Docklands turf was in far better condition than early in last season, but the outfield was still very slow.
Jake Fraser-McGurk showed signs of his best for the Renegades, hitting a well-made 39.
The Renegades (1-3) will be back in action on Sunday night when they face the Stars at the MCG in their first Melbourne derby of the tournament. The Sixers (2-3) will travel to Coffs Harbour for a clash with the Brisbane Heat on Monday night.