Highveld Lions v Sydney Sixers - Champions League Twenty20 2012 (Group B) – Match Recap [Part 1]
The Sydney Sixers have all but assured themselves a spot in the semi-finals of the ongoing Champions League Twenty20, after securing a 5-wicket win over the Highveld http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808 in their Group B match, played at Newlands in Cape Town on October 18.
Both teams came into the match unbeaten, with 2 successive wins to their credit. The match presented the perfect opportunity to inch closer to a spot in the tournament semis, and in the end the Sixers proved the worthier side.
The Sixers won the toss and owing to the fresh nature of the green-tinged surface, skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BJ-Haddin-c1170 decided to bowl first. Having proved adept at chasing, after having chosen to bowl first in the 2 matches they had played in the tournament so far, the Lions were suddenly faced with the prospect of putting up a daunting total on the board.
However, faced with the Sixers’ potent pace attack, the Lions were unable to step up to the challenge. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Watson-c2558 bagged two each.
Opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gulam-Bodi-c1512 remained the only one who managed a decent performance – the left-hander struck 61 off 44, but his efforts were unsupported by the rest of the batsmen. The Lions have relied heavily on their top-order in the past few games, and with the veterans falling for paltry scores against the Sixers, most of the middle order failed to keep the team’s innings moving forward.
Skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Quinton-de-Kock-c82885 for a disappointing 4 off 14 in the 8th over.
Veteran http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Moises-Henriques-c2021, and by the 14th over, the team was at 91 for 4.
The Sixers’ pacers continued to tear through the Lions’ batting order, but middle-order batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jean-Symes-c66756, who had led the Lions to victory over the Chennai Super Kings on October 16, valiantly attempted to get the innings back on track. He had managed to get his individual score up to 23, in addition to setting up a 29-run partnership for the 5th wicket with Bodi, when Starc struck in the 18th over. Bodi was trapped lbw, and Symes was bowled, all in the same over, leaving the Lions at 123 for 6.
From there onwards, the Lions underwent a complete collapse, as Starc and Watson polished off the rest of the batting order. Chris Morris managed to remain not out on 14, but http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DP-Nannes-c1396 (1*) at the crease, the Lions posted a tepid final score of 137.
Continued in Part 2 ...
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