Summary
And this is where Sportwatch ends this Sunday. Josh Philippe and the Sixers were too good for the Strikers in the Big Bash, Melbourne Victory showed they’re not done with a big win over Newcastle in the A-League, the Victory also did the job against the Jets in the W-League and Australia were too good for Canada in the ATP Cup. And I haven’t even mentioned the Sydney Test. A big day of sport. Thanks for your company.
Updated
BBL: Sydney Sixers beat Adelaide Strikers by seven wickets
It was always hard to tell how many the Strikers would need and in the end their 176-6, was, just, not enough for this Sixers line-up. Curran finishes the job with a six (with three balls to spare) but Philippe was the man, batting through to finish with 83 off 52 balls. He is a real talent.
Philippe has gotten ALL of this one.
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 5, 2020
📺 Stream #BBL09 ad-break free on Kayo: https://t.co/CfILOrTeyB
Live blog 📝: https://t.co/dB73F4Oiun pic.twitter.com/QpFC0UGN9N
BBL: 19 overs: Sydney Sixers 173-3 (Philippe 82, Curran 4) v Adelaide Strikers (176-6) Philippe goes nuts, scoring most of the 21 runs off Neser’s over, and this match is now absolutely the Sixers’ to lose. Just four runs to win. Neser returns 0-48 from his four overs. Ouch.
BBL: 18 overs: Sydney Sixers 152-3 (Philippe 65, Curran 0) v Adelaide Strikers (176-6) A ripper of a catch by Rashid Khan in the deep does for Vince - for some reason it’s sent upstairs for an interminable number of reviews - keeps the Strikers in with a sniff.
BBL: 17 overs: Sydney Sixers 145-2 (Philippe 63, Vince 8) v Adelaide Strikers (176-6) Philippe, dropped by Neser in the 16th over, is making the Strikers pay. But though wickets are not an issue, runs still are. Could go either way, but the Sixers are still favoured.
Josh Philippe all class on his way to a half-century!
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 5, 2020
Can he get the Sixers home from here? #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/g551vShG6m
BBL: 15 overs: Sydney Sixers 123-2 (Philippe 50, Vince 0) v Adelaide Strikers (176-6) Rashid Khan, back in the attack, does what he does best and breaks through, enticing Hughes into an expansive shot which finds its way down the throat of Short at deep midwicket. Philippe, meanwhile, stands in Adelaide’s way and reaches his fifty off 36 balls.
BBL: 13 overs: Sydney Sixers 105-1 (Philippe 35, Hughes 21) v Adelaide Strikers (176-6) The asking rate is now a shade over 10 runs per over, which looks entirely achievable for the Sixers with nine wickets in hand on a perfect evening in Coffs.
WNBL wrap: Adelaide are now the team to beat
Adelaide are the real WNBL deal, proving it with a stunning 104-93 win against the ladder-leading Southside Flyers. Last season’s beaten grand finalists proved too good on Sunday for the Melbourne-based team, who were on the second leg of their weekend road trip.
The Lightning, powered by captain Nicole Seekamp (10 points, 20 assists) and Lauren Nicholson (24 points), prevented the Flyers all but locking up top spot on the ladder.
Australian basketball legend Lauren Jackson said on social media the Lightning (10-6) were a genuine championship threat and were hitting top form at the right time. The Flyers remain comfortably clear on top at 13-3, but Adelaide have given them something to think about leading into the playoffs. The Lightning made it a round-12 double after destroying the Fire in Townsville on Friday 87-61.
Southside started off their western road trip by taking care of the Lynx 90-75 in Perth when Rebecca Cole was running hot with 30 points.
There was a major upset in Bendigo on Friday as the battling Spirit edged out reigning champions Canberra 94-90. It came on a weekend when the Capitals were forced to cancel their game against Perth at the AIS because of hazardous conditions in Canberra from the bushfires devastating Australia. The Capitals have not been able to train at the AIS or the University of Canberra since New Year’s Eve.
In the final game, the championship-contending Melbourne Boomers smashed Sydney Uni 86-63. The Boomers will travel to Adelaide on Friday as the Lightning aim to take another scalp.
- with thanks to AAP
Oh hell yeah girl!! @NicoleSeekamp35 killing it this afternoon #recordcheck @WNBL @wnblshow @BasketballAus pic.twitter.com/pp9K2V9WUg
— Adelaide Lightning (@AdelLightning) January 5, 2020
BBL: 9 overs: Sydney Sixers 75-1 (Philippe 25, Hughes 2) v Adelaide Strikers (176-6) An important breakthrough for the Strikers with Avendano going for 47 off 33 balls. His moment of reckoning, a skied attempted pull shot off the bowling of Conway, hung in the air long enough for us all to grow a beard as Carey loitered under it, put the kettle on, and somehow managed to take the catch.
Here’s that Avendano blow off Siddle’s bowling. Wow!
Justin Avendano is starting to heat up!
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 5, 2020
📺 Stream #BBL09 ad-break free on Kayo: https://t.co/CfILOrTeyB
Live blog 📝: https://t.co/dB73F4Oiun pic.twitter.com/AE80gWzxs5
BBL: 8 overs: Sydney Sixers 68-0 (Avendano 43, Philippe 24) v Adelaide Strikers (176-6) They’re coming out of the screws now. Both openers are seeing them like beach balls, and if they carry on like this we’ll know that 176 isn’t par at this ground. You have to see Avendano’s pull shot off Siddle for six to believe it. To be fair to Pete, he recovered well and only went for nine in the over.
6⃣ That one goes a VERY LONG WAY by Avendano 💣🙌 #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/7mMnzp2fmo
— Sydney Sixers (@SixersBBL) January 5, 2020
Updated
If too much cricket isn’t enough cricket for your liking, wrap your inners around this liveblog of the South Africa-England Test match at Newlands.
BBL: 5 overs: Sydney Sixers 35-0 (Avendano 25, Philippe 9) v Adelaide Strikers (176-6) A solid start to the Sixers’ chase, with no wickets lost but, amazingly, Philippe not scoring at more than a run a ball. There’s time...
A-League: FT: Melbourne Victory 4-0 Newcastle
A game to forget for Newcastle but a special result for Melbourne Victory, who bizarrely looked better without Ola Toivonen on the park. Kruse was immense and the four-goal margin was entirely fitting. This, the their second win on the bounce, was a timely reminder that the Victory can do something if they manage to make the finals. As for the Jets, where does one start...
🏁 FULL TIME
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) January 5, 2020
What was the score lads?#MVCvNEW #ALeague pic.twitter.com/nijvWJKjbA
A-League: GOAL! Melbourne Victory 4-0 Newcastle (Millar OG, 86’) Oh dear. It’s been that kind of night for the Jets and this tops it off nicely, than you very much. A nice cross in from Lesiotis stretches the Newcastle defence and Millar, sliding in to repel the challenge, can do no more than dribble the ball into the net. Whistle please!
NBL: South East Melbourne 92-97 New Zealand Breakers
New Zealand Breakers have endured a NBL season full of drama and tragedy, yet the roster has overcome adversity to become the competition’s danger team. Following a fifth straight win - and fourth on the road - the Breakers are quickly closing in on the top-four.
They edged South East Melbourne 97-92 on Sunday, just days after the death of their manager Fata Letoa, to sit fifth. The Breakers ruined the Phoenix’s first game at Melbourne’s State Basketball Centre and moved closed to play-off contention as round 14 drew to a close.
- with thanks to AAP
BBL: 20 overs: Adelaide Strikers 176-6 v Sydney Sixers An unbeaten 40 off 28 balls to Wells, and some lusty hitting at the end from Neser (25 off 15) and Khan (14no off 6), gets Adelaide to the sort of total they looked like tallying when Weatherald and co were hitting with impunity early on.
That had a bit of everything 😳
— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) January 5, 2020
Wells finishes unbeaten on 40 - can we defend it? 🙏
📊: https://t.co/9KLEE6YeNu #BlueEnergy #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/BldJK5rcKD
A-League: GOAL! Melbourne Victory 3-0 Newcastle (Nabbout, 64’) Kruse involved again - he’s having a blinder tonight - and Nabbout drills it home from inside the box to pretty much make it goodnight nurse. The Jets are a rabble now, out of shape and three goals to the bad.
A birthday gift for Migjen Basha 🤩
— FOX Sports Football (@FOXFOOTBALL) January 5, 2020
📺 Watch #ALeague on Kayo: https://t.co/BVjrotjLKi
📝FOLLOW LIVE: https://t.co/8AXdi3hcfR pic.twitter.com/b52p7AxMPJ
A-League: GOAL! Melbourne Victory 2-0 Newcastle (Basha, 61’) One change for the Jets early in the second half, with Burns making way for Koutroumbis. Newcastle have enjoyed the better of the opening minutes of this stanza but it’s the Victory who score against the run of play and double their lead. Moss can do no more than parry Kruse’s shot into Basha’s path, and the birthday boy makes no mistake in slotting it home. That’s two goals for two people celebrating their birthday today. You wouldn’t read about it.
BBL: 17 overs: Adelaide Strikers 138-5 (Wells 32, Neser 9) v Sydney Sixers A comedy run-out sees Short depart without facing a ball and, though Wells is batting like a man possessed, one wonders how many the Strikers might have scored without their various brain fades. One also wonders what constitutes a worthy total at this ground?
ATP Cup update: Dimitrov does the business for Bulgaria
Grigor Dimitrov has helped edge Bulgaria a step closer to the ATP Cup finals after his straight sets win over Radu Albot secured the tie for his country on Sunday. The world No 20 looked in fine touch, registering a 6-2 6-3 win over the Moldovan.
While it was a cooler day in Sydney following Saturday’s scorching 45C heat, the the winds brought with it bushfire smoke haze and dust which impacted Ken Rosewall Arena despite its new roof
“Obviously I see a little bit more now. It’s definitely not pleasant. But I even noticed it this morning when we went to the court to warm up. The court was a little bit more dustier than it was the previous days,” Dimitrov said. “Clearly it is what it is. You know, we can control only what we can.”
Earlier, Dimitar Kuzmanov gave Bulgaria the perfect start with a 6-1 7-5 win over Alexander Cozbinov. Moldova picked up a rubber when Albot teamed with Cozbinov to beat Dimitrov and Alexandar Lazarov 6-4 7-6 (7-4).
The victory leaves the Bulgarians at 2-0 for the competition along with Australia who downed Canada 3-0 in Group F.
- with thanks to AAP
BBL: 13 overs: Adelaide Strikers 94-3 (Wells 12, White 4) v Sydney Sixers Hazlewood finishes with 1-18 from his four overs and he’s been largely responsible for putting the skids on the Strikers’ progress. Really, what else would you expect from such a fantastic bowler?
Josh Hazlewood makes a big 'ol mess of Alex Carey's stumps for his first @BBL wicket since 2014 pic.twitter.com/WXzOBwyJbx
— Cricket World (@Cricket_World) January 5, 2020
A-League: HT: Melbourne Victory 1-0 Newcastle So it remains 1-nil to the Victory, and while the Jets haven’t been without their chances, the home team are full value for Kruse’s strike after nine minutes. Interestingly, the Victory are undefeated in their past four matches against Newcastle at AAMI Park, despite not going into half-time with the lead in any of them. Not sure if that’s a good or bad sign for either team.
✋ HALF TIME
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) January 5, 2020
Robbie Kruse's early strike leaves Victory a goal ahead at the break#MVCvNEW #ALeague pic.twitter.com/LqOkifLGr0
BBL: 10 overs: Adelaide Strikers 81-3 (Wells 6, White 2) v Sydney Sixers A couple of quick wickets have slowed the Strikers somewhat, with Salt holing out to Pope for 25 and Carey playing all around a straight, full one from Hazlewood to be castled for 29.
There he is! Josh Hazlewood claims his first BBL wicket in approx. 11,234 days. Need to double-check that.
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 5, 2020
Carey departs #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/8V4oJQGCIK
A-League: 33 mins: Melbourne Victory 1-0 Newcastle Burns has gone into the referee’s book fort his challenge on Kruse and that’s the first yellow card of the match. Not long after, Traoré shimmies and shakes in the Jets box and looks a chance of scoring before being shut down.
BBL: 5 overs: Adelaide Strikers 52-1 (Salt 17, Carey 16) v Sydney Sixers The loss of Weatherald has done nothing to stymie the Strikers. Carey - loving this guy as a prospect - just took Curran to town with a six and a four. Looks a good deck in Coffs but it’s also a small ground. Strap yourselves in for some big scoring.
A-League: GOAL! Melbourne Victory 1-0 Newcastle (Kruse, 9’) The Victory get off to the perfect start with Kruse latching onto Broxham’s long ball and beating the keeper. They’d had the better of the opening exchanges, the hosts, and this goal didn’t come as a surprise.
Robbie Kruse takes the big opportunity and scores for Victory in the first 10 minutes! 💪
— FOX Sports Football (@FOXFOOTBALL) January 5, 2020
📺 Watch #ALeague on Kayo: https://t.co/BVjrotjLKi
📝FOLLOW LIVE: https://t.co/8AXdi3hcfR pic.twitter.com/fF0oHNRYLk
BBL: Adelaide Strikers 24-1 (2 overs) v Sydney Sixers The Strikers are were off to a flyer. Fourteen runs came off Dwarshuis’s opening over and Weatherald and Salt were seeing them large. But on the last ball of Bird’s over, Weatherald holed out to Dwarshuis at third man for 16 off nine balls. Dying by the sword as he lived by it, with a little bit of revenge for the man who got caned in the first over of the match.
Cricket: Check out the report of day three of the final Test between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t make for good reading if you’re a Kiwi.
Updated
BBL: Adelaide Strikers have called correctly and will bat first against Sydney Sixers in Coffs Harbour. Best of all, Josh Hazlewood lines up for the Sixers in his first game in the BBL for almost six years.
The Hoff is in Coffs!
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 5, 2020
Josh Hazlewood prepares for his first game for the @SixersBBL since BBL03. Jackson Bird and Michael Neser are along for the ride as well #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/3j3nBrEy2D
A-League: we’re barely moments away from the Victory-Jets game. How on earth can Melbourne Victory win without Ola Toivonen? That’s like asking Christmas to happen without Saint Nick and his reindeers doing their thing. We’ll see. Anyway, here’s the teams.
MELBOURNE VICTORY (4-2-3-1): Lawrence Thomas (GK); Anthony Lesiotis, James Donachie, Leigh Broxham, Adama Traore; Jakob Poulsen, Migjen Basha; Andrew Nabbout, Kristijan Dobras, Elvis Kamsoba; Robbie Kruse. SUBS: Brendan White (GK), Storm Roux, Corey Brown, Kenny Athiu, Joshua Hope, Jay Barnett.
NEWCASTLE JETS (4-4-2): Glen Moss (GK); Matthew Millar, Lachlan Jackson, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Bobby Burns; Steven Ugarkovic, Benjamin Kantarovski, Patrick Langlois, Jason Hoffman; Angus Thurgate, Dimitrios Petratos. SUBS: Lewis Italiano (GK), Nick Fitzgerald, Kaine Sheppard, Johnny Koutroumbis, Matthew Ridenton.
Is #MVCvNEW the new “A-League equivalent of two drunk old men fighting at a bus stop while everybody else looks away.”?
— A-League FC (@ALeagueFC) January 5, 2020
Look for movement on the #ALeague ladder should either side pick up a win this morning. #ALeagueFC
W-League: Melbourne Victory 2-1 Newcastle
The Victory’s finals chances have a beating heart after seeing off Newcastle. Gema Simon’s goal after 61 minutes halved the Jets’ deficit and gave the home side something to worry about, but their two first-half goals were enough to secure the three points. The story of the day, however, was the Victory’s Darian Jenkins scoring her first W-League goal on her 25th birthday. Memories are made of this.
ATP Cup update: Australia crush Canada
The surprise withdrawal of Nick Kyrgios has not stopped Australia gaining sweet revenge and claiming victory in their ATP Cup tie against Canada in Brisbane.
Alex de Minaur came back from a set and a break down on Sunday to defeat world No.15 Denis Shapovalov 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 6-2 in three hours, giving the hosts an unbeatable 2-0 lead.
Earlier, hometown hero John Millman stepped up after Kyrgios pulled out with a back complaint to down world No.21 Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4 6-2 at Pat Rafter Arena.
An undefeated Australia will qualify for the finals in Sydney as the Group F winners if Germany beat Greece later on Sunday.
- with thanks to AAP
That screw, it is a turning. This has been a relentlessly glorious summer for Australia’s cricketers and, again, it’s a case of when, not if, Australia put New Zealand to bed in the third Test. And that will make it a perfect set of five. Seriously, this is a serious Test cricket team. Jonathan Howcroft is wrapping up his thoughts on day three at the SCG. Do yourself a good turn and read it.
Preamble
Greetings and salutations, sports fans. My, hasn’t it been a big weekend on several fronts. The more the country burns, the less significant, relevant even, sport seems to be. But, smoke haze and air quality permitting, sport is carrying on. In cricket, Australia have spent Sunday tightening their grip around New Zealand’s illness-weakened neck. In tennis, Australia - minus Nick Kyrgios, whose initiative to get behind bushfire relief has thankfully caught on - did the business against Canada in the ATP Cup. In the W-League, Melbourne Victory did their finals chances no harm with a win over Newcastle. To come, the same two clubs do battle in the A-League at the same time as the Sixers lock horns with the Strikers in the Big Bash League. So, there’s plenty on and doubtless plenty more skirting the periphery that might pique our interest. You can get in touch with me on email or Twitter. Let’s do this thing.
