steps into his first ball, pings the winning runs through square leg! The Sixers are home in an unexpectedly tense finale, but Stars' season is well and truly cooked now
Stars vs Sixers, 31st Match at Melbourne, BBL, Jan 06 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Sixers won by 6 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)
9.52pm Well, that was dramatic. But the upshot is that Sixers vault to the top of the table, one point ahead of Scorchers and Thunder, thanks to James Vince's outstanding unbeaten 91 from 59 balls. A largely one-man show, although he was running out of steam by the end and needed some help over the line from Silk and Christian. Hughes and Henriques played useful hands too.
Jordan Silk: "I heard a noise as it went past the bat, but the front-on camera showed I was a foot away from it, I reckon I was run out at the other end anyway. Vince has been good with that sort of innings, we've been speaking about having a set batter at the end. Shots all around the pitch, he was class, that's why we get him back every year."
So there we have it, some sort of clarity on that penultimate ball, but all's well that ends well for Sixers. Thanks for joining us, a reminder of the state of the standings - contrasting fortunes for tonight's combatants. From Miller, Alan and Binoy, good night!
bangs in the bouncer, can't connect... but as they sprint the single, Wood gathers the shy from the keeper and under-arms into the stumps... it's a combined review, as Sixers reckon there was a nick on the attempted uppercut! Sure enough, there is a spike on Snicko! We have a dramatic finish brewing now! But hang on, Vince is protesting ... about the height maybe, clearly above head height in his normal stance... or is it the fact that the picture and the snick don't align on the replays. Should it have been a no-ball? It's academic now. Don't even know if it was a successful run-out attempt, but it matters not now
Two to win... but a wicket would be interesting
Afeef: "I remember when Vince was on 98 once and a wide from Tye denied him a century" Might need snookers to get there now
humungous! Cuffed off the good length, in the slot from over the wicket, and monstered into the stands at long-on!
another rowdy swing across the line, losing his shape a touch, Vince is knackered now, and just a single to midwicket
heaved across the line, out to deep midwicket, Vince is struggling as he sprints back for the second, but he might just have beaten the throw from Rogers... indeed he has, cos the keeper missed the stumps! Got them on the second attempt, but by then it was too late
If Vince gets his hundred, Sixers win... 11 needed for the win
fired into the toes, Vince will keep the strike as he nudges to square leg
worked to the on-side, another excellent bit of running to turn one into two
faster and skiddier, zips into the gloves as Vince misses his cut
It's get Vince or get Vince-d for Stars...
advancing again, eased into the covers, and that's good running to get back for two, the lack of pace on the stroke paying dividends
skips to the pitch, and lumps a hard drive through long-on!
threaded drive into the covers, they rush back for two with the man set deep
Zampa has the ball. Big over
Simon: "You shouldn't be this far behind in a chase only 3 wickets down, really poor from Sixers to lose this " They've made life harder than it perhaps seemed, yes
has a wipe at the tight line outside off, but can't make good contact. A precious dot to take this to the wire...
swings through the pull, can't connect properly but they rush the single into the off side
slower-ball bouncer, Vince swings through the upper-cut pull, high over backward square! Massivre double-whammy to swing the pendulum again
pounded hard and flat into the sightscreen! Vince knew what was needed and delivered, with a open-stanced wallop back over the bowler, picking the slower ball
fires in the yorker, down the leg side but through Vince's legs as he shapes for a leg-glance. Sixers suddenly need a boundary
back of a length, tight to off stump with a hint of shape back in, pressed to mid-off
hacked into the covers, can't connect well, just eight from the over to keep the chase honest
This has been a good surge for Stars. Can they close it out?
attempted pull, Wood's pace from round the wicket beats his intentions, a top-edge into the body
full length into the toes, whipped behind square for another single
Over 20 • SS 176/4