BBL 2017/18 36th Match: Denly leads the way as Sixers overcome Maxwell’s blitz

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Joe Denly 72 Sydney Sixers Melbourne Stars BBL cricket

Joe Denly walloped six boundaries and three sixes during his unbeaten knock of 72

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Joe Denly smashed an unbeaten 72 as the Sydney Sixers survived Glenn Maxwell’s superb knock of 84 to defeat the Melbourne Stars by five wickets.

With their win, the Sixers moved up to fourth place on the Big Bash League (BBL) standings, while the Stars continue to languish at the bottom.

Choosing to bowl first, the Sixers got an early breakthrough as Ben Dwarshuis clean bowled Ben Dunk for seven runs.

Peter Handscomb only made eight runs before he was sent packing by Carlos Brathwaite.

However, Maxwell and Rob Quiney stabilised the innings with a 119-run partnership, during which Maxwell sailed past his fifty, before Quiney was stumped by Peter Nevill off the bowling of Nathan Lyon for 36.

Sebastian Gotch fell shortly after, while Maxwell went on to score 84 off 47 balls, which included seven boundaries and four sixes, before he was dismissed by Brathwaite.

With James Faulkner and Evan Gulbis scoring 21 and 14 respectively, the Stars finished on 189/5 off their 20 overs.

Brathwaite was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Lyon, Dwarshuis and Denly chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Chasing 190 to win, the Sixers lost opener Daniel Hughes on the sixth ball of their innings as he was caught by Gulbis at deep square leg off the bowling of Faulkner for two runs.

Denly and Nic Maddinson made up for the loss of Hughes with a 108-run partnership, during which Maddinson raced past his fifty.

With Maddinson ripping the Stars’ bowling line-up to shreds, the Sixers were cruising towards the finish line.

However, Maddinson was eventually trapped lbw off the bowling of Stars captain John Hastings for a 26-ball 61, which included nine boundaries and three sixes.

Moises Henriques, Sixers captain Johan Botha and Brathwaite followed shortly after, but Denly ensured his side reached their target and finished on 72 off 45 deliveries, which included six boundaries and three sixes.

Hastings and Gulbis took two wickets apiece, while Faulkner claimed one.

Denly was named Man of the Match.

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