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Sydney Sixers beat Adelaide Strikers in the Challenger of the BBL 2021-22 under dramatic circumstances with the Sixers making a suspect move in the final over of the run chase.
Needing 168 to win, Sixers were 156/4 at the end of the 19th over with Sean Abbott and Hayden Kerr at the crease. With 12 needed off 6 balls, Harry Conway had Abbot caught out off the first ball of the final over.
Ben Dwarshius walked in to bat and was run out first ball to compound Sixers’ woes. Jordan Silk then walked in to bat at No.8 having injured his hamstring in the field in the first innings.
The aim was for Silk to target the short leg side boundary and smash a six and get Sixers closer, but the injured batter could only manage a single off the first ball he faced, putting Kerr on strike.
Clear thinking under pressure from the Sixers which has underpinned their recent success – going for a three-peat in Friday’s final
Scorchers are strong favourites due to Sixers’ injuries but reaching the final is an achievement in itself given their availability crisis
— Matt Roller (@mroller98) January 26, 2022
Kerr then smashed a six off the fourth ball of the over to take the Sixers closer. With four runs needed off two balls, Kerr managed a couple of runs to make the equation two needed off one ball.
At this point, Sixers pulled off a controversial move that’s gaining attention on social media. They retired hurt Silk – who had clearly walked in injured – to get in a more swift runner at the non-striker’s end for the final ball.
WATCH SYDNEY SIXERS RETIRE OUT JORDAN SILK WITH ONE BALL TO GO
The @sixersBBL decision to retire Jordan Silk hurt on the final ball caught us all off-guard ???? #BBL11 pic.twitter.com/GbU2qfBgBi
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 26, 2022
Introducing Sixers assistant coach and new wicketkeeper-batter Jay Lenton – a late inclusion for tonight’s Challenger final after Josh Philippe’s positive Covid test #BBL11
More details here: https://t.co/ziy8mGWbUn pic.twitter.com/xHyARzeqD2
— Jack Paynter (@jackpayn) January 26, 2022
Jay Lenton, interestingly the assistant coach of the team and a last minute COVID-19 replacement in the playing XI, walked in knowing fully well he may not need to face a single ball with Kerr on strike. The Sixers promptly stole a couple of runs off the final ball to win the match and go through to the finals where they will meet Perth Scorchers.
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