![Ellyse Perry led from the front and sealed the deal for the Sixers in the WBBL 2023. [Image: Getty]](https://www.womenscricinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/371898.webp "Ellyse Perry led from the front and sealed the deal for the Sixers. [Image: Getty]")
Sydney Sixers came out all guns blazing to produce an inspired performance versus Sydney Thunder at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in the Women’s Big Bash League 2023 (WBBL 2023) on Saturday. Reducing the Thunder to a below-par total of 123, as Ashleigh Gardner scalped 4 wickets; the Sixers chased down the target owing to an Ellyse Perry masterclass in batting.
Sydney Thunder won the toss and decided to bat first, in hindsight they would rethink the decision. Off to a brisk start, they lost Tahlia Wilson early on for 2 as Gardner struck without much hassle. With the dependable duo of Chamari Athapaththu and Phoebe Litchfield batting it out, the Thunder camp seemed rest assured of a big total.
Athapaththu was finding it a little arduous to adapt to the conditions even though she struck three powerful boundaries but somewhere she seemed to pile on the dots although her knock of 26 was brought to an abrupt end by Gardner. Phoebe Litchfield was the next to fall for 34 as Ellyse Perry came to dismiss the settled batter for a well-played 34 coming off just 25 balls in the WBBL 2023.
Elite from Phoebe Litchfield!
This partnership is getting dangerous for the Sixers #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/Oux3KgfyUU
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 26, 2023
Although Heather Knight held on from one end scoring some vital runs and keeping the scoreboard ticking, wickets kept falling in clumps around her which certainly did not help the cause.
It started with the dismissal of Marizanne Kapp for 1 in the 14th over as Linsey Smith got her out then with Anika Learoyd getting run out for 2 by Lauren Cheatle, the situation only seemed to complicate further. The 19th over in particular was hard on Thunder who lost Olivia Porter, Sammy Jo-Johnson and Lauren Smith consecutively as Ashleigh Gardner completely outfoxed them in the thrilling game of the WBBL 2023.
With the England skipper Heather Knight dismissed for her anchoring knock of 38 and Hannah Darlington for a three-ball duck, the Thunder folded for 123 in 19.5 overs. The pick of the bowlers for the Sixers was undoubtedly Ashleigh Gardner with 4 wickets and Linsey Smith with two wickets.
Ash Gardner gets her second!
Chamari departs, making way for Thunder skipper Heather Knight #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/csMuhAmI3o
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 26, 2023
The run chase for the Sixers was executed to perfection by the legendary veteran Ellyse Perry who not only negotiated with the challenge presented by the Thunder bowlers but seemed to play her game without any inhibitions. She was partnered by Suzie Bates who played excellent second fiddle and they breezed through the powerplay making the most of the power surge.
Bates’ knock of 18 was brought to an end by Hannah Darlington. But with the all-round Ashleigh Gardner joining her fellow Aussie teammate, the two took matters into their own hands and stitched a remarkable partnership.
Stand and deliver type stuff from Ellyse Perry!@WeberBBQAusNZ | #WBBL09 |.#Sizzling Sixes pic.twitter.com/hKgZ0MOrrj
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 26, 2023
Most of the batting was done by Ellyse Perry who seems to have awoken the attacking batter she is as she muscled to an unbelievable 82 pff 60 and with Gardner’s 21, the Sixers successfully crossed the finish line in 17.3 overs win and sealed a memorable win the Sydney derby in the WBBL 2023.
Ellyse Perry for her all-round excellence was adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’ and with that, the group stages of the WBBL came to an end. As things stand, the Playoff will have Brisbane Heat take on Sydney Thunder on 28th November, the winner will play Perth Scorchers on 29th November and further, the winner of this contest in the ultimate showdown with Adelaide Strikers on the 2nd of December. Certainly, an exciting and action-packed playoffs awaits us in the WBBL in the coming days.
Sydney is magenta!#WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/DHVcZYph0O
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 26, 2023
WBBL 2023: Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers Brief Scores
Sydney Thunder 123 all out in 19.5 overs (Heather Knight 38, Phoebe Litchfield 34; Ashleigh Gardner 4/26, Linsey Smith 2/19) lost to Sydney Sixers 126/1 in 17.3 overs (Ellyse Perry 82*, Ashleigh Gardner 21*; Hannah Darlington 1/35) by 9 wickets.
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