A two month long season of intense cricket action finally reached its end today, when the Melbourne Stars and the Sydney Sixers played out the all-important final match of the 2019-20 Big Bash League. For a tournament featuring a plethora of action-packed moments, the final match ended in a somewhat anti-climatic fashion. Rain played spoilsport for a good-part of the match, so much so that the 40-over encounter had to trimmed down to a 12-over-per-side affair. Ultimately, hosts Sydney Sixers edged-out the Melbourne Stars by a mere 16-runs to win their second Big Bash League title. The Stars, meanwhile, succumbed to their third final defeat-second one in a row- in as many appearances.
Despite the rain and the resultant delayed start to the match; the fans did have their moments to relish the on-field action. The most prominent one of which could be credited to the Sixers’ batsman Jordan Silk. During the 10th over of the Sixers’ innings, the lanky Tasmanian batsman came up with a shot which, quite literally, got the seated fans off their seats.
Nathan Coulter-Nile had only a solitary delivery-remaining to conclude his over. For his final ball, Coulter-Nile lobbed down a length delivery. The on-Strike Silk shifted in his crease to make some room, and pulled the delivery for a gigantic maximum. The ball sailed-over deep mid-wicket; only for a spectator to pull-off a brilliant one handed catch! This spectator made a short sideways stride, and made a big leap at the very final moment, to cap-off a stunning athletic effort. His compatriots were all busy with congratulations and pats on the back, while the commentators couldn’t help but also applaud. Even the mid-wicket fielder Marcus Stoinis had to acknowledge the moment, first with some claps and a smile later. Check out this video to grasp the awesomeness of the instant.
GET AROUND HIM!
That's an all-time crowd catch right there! #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/2c1Yve81Hf
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) February 8, 2020
The summary of the final
Thanks to this shot from Silk, and a few more from his teammates Josh Philippe and Steve Smith, the Sixers were able to end at 116/ 5 in their 12-over innings. Philippe top scored for the hosts with 52 runs, collecting 4-boundaries and 3-sixes in his innings. Adam Zampa turned out to be the Stars’ best bowler with figures of 3-0-24-2. When it came to their batting, none of the batsmen, barring Nick Larkin, could really get going. Larkin’s knock of 38-runs, alongside some big-hits from Ben Dunk and Coulter-Nile, dragged their total to 97/6. Steve O’Keefe derailed the Stars with his 2-wickets, but ultimately, Philippe won Man of the Match for his winning knock.
