Abbott’s all-round performance earned him the Man of the Match award
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Sean Abbott clubbed a game-winning 33 not out and took one wicket to not only lead the Sydney Sixers to a three-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars, but also guide them into the Big Bash League (BBL) semi-finals.
Being put in to bat first, the Stars made a strong start to their innings as openers Rob Quiney and Luke Wright amassed a 59-run partnership before Quiney was dismissed by Sixers captain Moises Henriques for 35.
Wright and Kevin Pietersen kept the runs flowing with a 71-run stand, during which Wright brought up his half-century, before Wright was clean bowled by Nathan Lyon for 62, which came off 47 balls and included six boundaries and a six.
Wright made a gutsy 62
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
The Stars began to crumble once Wright departed as they lost wickets in a hurry, including that of Pietersen, who made 39, and ended up going up from 130/2 in the 16th over to being restricted to 156/8 off their 20 overs.
Ben Dwarshuis inflicted the most damage with three wickets, while Lyon snapped up two and Henriques and Abbott picked up one wicket apiece.
Chasing 157 to win, the Sixers found themselves in trouble early on as opener Michael Lumb and batsman Colin Munro were dismissed in quick succession for six and three respectively.
Just when the Sixers were beginning to rebuild their innings, Henriques was clean bowled by Liam Bowe for 20 and Daniel Hughes followed soon after for 34.
Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and Nic Maddinson made 10 and 14 respectively before Johan Botha and Abbott put the Sixers on the brink of victory with a 59-run partnership.
Botha ended up being dismissed for a handy 25, but Abbott scored an unbeaten 33 off 17 balls, which included three boundaries and two sixes, to lead the Sixers to victory with an over to spare.
Scott Boland was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Bowe, Michael Beer, Ben Hilfenhaus and Evan Gulbis claimed one wicket each.
Even though the Stars lost the match, they also managed to book their spot in the semi-finals.
Abbott was named Man of the Match.