Highveld http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808 v Sydney Sixers - Champions League Twenty20 2012 (Group B) – Match Recap [Part 2]
Continued from Part 1 ...
Having set up a 138-run chase for the Sydney Sixers, the Highveld Lions’ left-arm spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Aaron-Phangiso-c884 (4-0-14-3) launched a spirit defence of his team’s total, but none of the other bowlers were able to support him in his endeavours.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jean-Symes-c66756 (3-0-36-0) both proved fairly expensive for the Lions, and their slip-ups did the team no good in their attempts to defend their underwhelming total.
The Sixers opened their innings with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 top-scored for the team with 47 off 38, while Lumb contributed a run-a-ball 22. The two openers joined forces for a 60-run partnership, which got their team off to a solid start.
Phangiso got the Lions the breakthrough they needed in the 9th over, by sending both Lumb and his successor http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dominic-John-Thornely-c54306 (0) back to the pavilion. He then followed it up with the prized wicket of Watson in the 11th over (caught out by wicketkeeper Tsolekile), leaving the Sixers at 74 for 3.
Wicketkeeper skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SPD-Smith-c2555 (25*) yielded 42 runs, and after Haddin was dislodged by Nannes in the 17th over, the Sixers had reached 116 for 4.
His successor http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Smith-c90598 kept the innings moving forward, and went on to get the team up to 141 with a flourish, hitting Tanvir for four off the final ball of the match. The Sixers made it over the finish line with 5 wickets still in hand, and 6 deliveries remaining.
The Sixers’ pace attack once again proved to be their strength, enabling them to limit their opponents to a low total, which their batsmen then proceeded to chase down with ease. Watson once again continued his fine form, and while the pace attack looks to be all set to continue without him, the Sixers will need to work at solidifying their batting order, with added responsibility being placed on the shoulders of youngsters such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nic-Maddinson-c79322, as they look to make it into the semis.
The Lions, meanwhile, were unable to maintain their winning streak, and with a match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yorkshire-c867 at Johannesburg coming up on October 20, will need to identify the key areas they need to work on, in order to stay in the running.
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