\n
![\"Melbourne](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753503308_17_placeholder.png\")
\n Melbourne Stars Men
\n STA<\/p>\n
Josh Philippe’s huge batting partnership with marquee international signing Babar Azam inspired the Sixers to victory in the Sydney Smash<\/p>\n
Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers | BBL|15<\/p>\n
Marquee man Babar Azam has hit form as Josh Philippe came agonisingly close to a first BBL century in the Sydney Sixers’ 47-run defeat of rivals the Sydney Thunder.<\/p>\n
The perennial heavyweights had been staring down the possibility of a 0-3 start to the summer before Philippe (96) and Azam’s 140-run stand kickstarted their season on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Set 199 runs for victory, the Thunder were left to rue a collapse of 3-17 inside the powerplay that included losing superstars Sam Konstas (2) and David Warner (2) in the same Jack Edwards over.<\/p>\n
Philippe fires, falls just short of maiden BBL ton<\/p>\n
Edwards finished with career-best figures of 5-26 as the Sixers (5-198) skittled the Thunder, who had won the toss, for 151 with five balls remaining.<\/p>\n
The defeat leaves last season’s runners-up winless through two games, despite some stiff resistance from No.5 Sam Billings (51 runs off 28 balls).<\/p>\n
Jack Edwards seals Sydney Smash with 5-wickets<\/p>\n
Azam failed to crack double digits in either of his first two knocks after arriving at the Sixers as one of the highest-profile signings in BBL history.<\/p>\n
But the Pakistani opener (58 of 42 balls) looked comfortable on an ENGIE Stadium deck more batter-friendly than that of previous summers.<\/p>\n
Azam, who has scored the most T20I half-centuries of any player, passed 50 for the first time in the BBL with a single off Nathan McAndrew (2-41) in the power surge.<\/p>\n
He eventually gloved English paceman Reece Topley (3-41) to wicketkeeper Billings, ending the fourth-highest partnership in Sixers history on review by the Thunder.<\/p>\n
Azam all class with first Big Bash fifty<\/p>\n
An umpire review cruelly denied Sixers wicketkeeper-batter Philippe the chance to kick on to a first T20 century in his 104th BBL game, with Daniel Sams’ catch judged to be clean and not kissing the turf.<\/p>\n
Batting at No.3 this summer, former opener Philippe clubbed four sixes on his way into the nineties to continue a great start to the tournament. But just as Philippe looked ready to become the third male Sixers player to notch a ton, he sent McAndrew to Sams at backward point.<\/p>\n
Sams had endured a sloppy night on the boundary rope at the ground’s southern edge and replays cast doubt as to whether his hands were under the ball.<\/p>\n
But the third umpire ruled a fair catch and Philippe missed out, also left to rue a feat of fielding brilliance from Konstas in the ninth over. The former Test opener flew high to hit the ball back into play and reduce what would’ve been a six to two runs; Philippe ended up four shy of 100.<\/p>\n
But Philippe was busy again during the Thunder’s stay at the crease, stumping Matthew Gilkes (12) off Todd Murphy (1-15) in the first over.<\/p>\n
The hosts were in deep trouble when Konstas and Warner both picked out fielders in the space of three Edwards deliveries.<\/p>\n
Shadab Khan (41) skied Edwards to reliable Jordan Silk at deep midwicket to hand Edwards his first T20 five-wicket haul and put the Sixers within reach of victory.<\/p>\n
KFC BBL|15 standings<\/p>\n
Team<\/p>\n
\n Matches played\n <\/p>\n
M<\/p>\n
\n Wins\n <\/p>\n
W<\/p>\n
\n Losses\n <\/p>\n
L<\/p>\n
\n Ties\n <\/p>\n
T<\/p>\n
\n No results\n <\/p>\n
N\/R<\/p>\n
\n Net Run Rate\n <\/p>\n
NRR<\/p>\n
\n Deductions\n <\/p>\n
Ded.<\/p>\n
\n Total points\n <\/p>\n
PTS<\/p>\n
1
\n
\n Melbourne Stars Men
\n STA<\/p>\n
1
\n 1
\n 0
\n 0
\n 0
\n 2.037
\n 0
\n 2<\/p>\n
2
\n
\n Melbourne Renegades Men
\n REN<\/p>\n
1
\n 1
\n 0
\n 0
\n 0
\n 0.7
\n 0
\n 2<\/p>\n
3
\n
\n Sydney Sixers Men
\n SIX<\/p>\n
3
\n 1
\n 2
\n 0
\n 0
\n 0.569
\n 0
\n 2<\/p>\n
4
\n
\n Perth Scorchers Men
\n SCO<\/p>\n
2
\n 1
\n 1
\n 0
\n 0
\n 0.365
\n 0
\n 2<\/p>\n
5
\n
\n Adelaide Strikers Men
\n STR<\/p>\n
1
\n 1
\n 0
\n 0
\n 0
\n 0.326
\n 0
\n 2<\/p>\n
6
\n
\n Brisbane Heat Men
\n HEA<\/p>\n
2
\n 1
\n 1
\n 0
\n 0
\n -0.277
\n 0
\n 2<\/p>\n
7
\n
\n Hobart Hurricanes Men
\n HUR<\/p>\n
2
\n 1
\n 1
\n 0
\n 0
\n -0.906
\n 0
\n 2<\/p>\n
8
\n
\n Sydney Thunder Men
\n THU<\/p>\n
2
\n 0
\n 2
\n 0
\n 0
\n -1.24
\n 0
\n 0<\/p>\n
Legend<\/p>\n
M: Matches played<\/p>\n
W: Wins<\/p>\n
L: Losses<\/p>\n
T: Ties<\/p>\n
N\/R: No results<\/p>\n
NRR: Net Run Rate<\/p>\n
Ded.: Deductions<\/p>\n
PTS: Total points<\/p>\n
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