The Sydney Sixers are on fire in the Big Bash Challenger final and David Warner reckons the game might already be over.
Welcome to news.com.au’s coverage of tonight’s Big Bash Challenger final between the Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers at the SCG.
The Sixers are favourites to progress, but they are coming off a 48-run loss to the Perth Scorchers, who have booked their place in Friday’s final.
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The Strikers will go in as underdogs but are in red-hot form after defeating the Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder in two sudden death finals.
Sixers make perfect start
The Sixers have made the perfect start after winning the toss and electing to bowl first.
Veteran spinner Steve O’Keefe needed only three balls in the first over to get a breakthrough for the men in magenta.
Strikers opener Alex Carey chipped a quick ball to Dan Christian at mid off and he was out for 1. Sean Abbott struck the very next over, dismissing Matt Short.
Ashes hero Travis Head played a very loose shot and was clean bowled by Abbott for three, to leave the Strikers languishing at 3/21 after four overs.
The Strikers are up against and David Warner reckons the Sixers are certain to win, despite the game being only seven overs hold. Let’s not jump the gun Davey.
Covid chaos wreaks havoc on Sixers
The Sixers don’t have enough players on their list to field a 13-man team for tonight’s Challenger, but the side is getting little sympathy from the BBL, who have blocked their last-ditch attempt to bring Steve Smith back into the side to replace Josh Philippe.
Wicketkeeper-batter Philippe, struck down by Covid-19, will miss the Challenger final, joining Covid-positive brothers Mickey and Jack Edwards on the sidelines.
The BBL rejected Smith on the grounds that he was not part of the central pool of local replacement players created on January 10.
However, the league has permitted Jay Lenton to come into the side to keep wicket despite the fact that he wasn’t part of the pool, either.
Of the replacement pool, only Nick Bertus has kept wicket in the past but he has never done so at T20 level professionally, so the Sixers told the BBL they would prefer to select a keeper with more experience behind the stumps.
Their request to bring Lenton into the side was approved, given he has been inside the BBL’s biosecurity protocols as an assistant coach this summer.
With Jasper Bruce, NCA Newswire
Originally published as Live: Sydney Sixers on fire vs Adelaide Strikers in BBL Challenger
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