Sixers' spin pushes Strikers towards exit

The Sydney Sixers cruised to an easy 64-run win over the hapless Adelaide Strikers to cement their place in the top four of the Big Bash League.

Adelaide appeared to have restricted the Sixers to a gettable target of 151, thanks to some tight bowling from Alfonso Thomas who took 3 for 24 off his four overs. He was well supported by spinners Daniel Salpietro and Aaron O'Brien, who were miserly with their mixed bag of spin.

Nic Maddinson smashed 31 off 20 and looked in good form before Salpietro removed him, caught at point. Moises Henriques was the only other Sixer to impress with the bat, building an innings of 42 of 37 deliveries to help the visitors past the 150-run mark.

But the Strikers never got started, losing the captain Michael Klinger in the first over thanks to a brilliant catch from veteran Stuart MacGill.

Some brilliant spin bowling followed from Steven O'Keefe and Nathan McCullum, both in their first appearances for the season. The pair combined to rip through the Stikers middle order, taking 4 for 16 to all but end Adelaide's finals' hopes. The Sixers move into third with a home match against the Scorchers in the final round of matches set to possibly decide who gets a home semi-final.

Man of the match O'Keefe finished with the impressive figures of 3 for 20 off four overs. MacGill also impressed - despite his anger towards the umpire for having to remove his hand towel so as not to distract the batsman - finishing with 2 for 12 off his four overs.