Sydney Sixers clinch win in table-topping clash

Sixers won by six runs in a tight contest between the two best teams in the competition

Sydney: Sydney Sixers 151-5, Perth Scorchers 145-7 - Sydney Sixers win by six runs

Scorecard

Sydney Sixers held their nerve on a slow pitch to keep the pressure on Perth Scorchers at the top of the Big Bash table.

On a surface that became tougher as the game wore on, Sixers – with Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon in their ranks – successfully defended 151 to beat Scorchers by six runs.

Stephen Eskinazi batted through the Perth innings for an unbeaten 66, but the Middlesex man struggled to break free as wickets fell around him.

After reducing Scorchers to 35 for 3 in the seventh over, Sixers continued to take wickets throughout, with only Josh Inglis (11), Ashton Turner (23) and Nick Hobson (27) joining him in double figures.

While Hobson was alongside Eskinazi, Perth looked in control, with the left-hander slog-sweeping two massive sixes against Lyon, before picking out deep midwicket with the first ball of Dan Christian's solitary over, which ended with the veteran also accounting for Andrew Tye.

Sean Abbott also picked up two wickets, having the in-form Cameron Bancroft caught at deep square leg and Aaron Hardie bowled as he attempted a violent heave to the legside.

^{Stephen Eskinazi made 66 not out for Scorchers (Matt King/Getty Images)}

With 16 runs required off the final over, Scorchers fell seven runs short of a win that would have extended their lead at the top of the ladder.

Earlier, Josh Philippe (54) had top-scored for Sixers in similar fashion to Eskinazi, anchoring the innings in conditions that made it difficult for anyone to grab the bull by the horns.

Philippe opened alongside Smith, who made 36 in a rare Big Bash appearance before driving Peter Hatzoglou to Eskinazi at cover.

Leg-spinner Hatzoglou also picked up Kurtis Patterson for 23, with Moises Henriques run out as he took on Jason Behrendorff's arm from long-on and lost the race as he attempted a second.

Christian was also run out, in his case via a direct-hit from David Payne's right boot, before Ben Dwarshuis ended Sixers' innings with a last-ball six. Little did he know how significant that strike would be, ultimately the difference between the sides.

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