Friday 26 October 2012

Starc Sixers Prevent Titans Final

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Sydney Sixers prevented an all-South African Champions League t20 final after defeating Nashua Titans by two wickets in a thrilling semi-final at Centurion.

Playing for the right to meet Highveld Lions in Sunday's final, Sydney held their nerve to chase down 164 off the final ball of the match.

Needing one run for victory with one delivery from CJD de Villiers remaining, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc scrambled a bye with Titans wicketkeeper Heino Kuhn off-target with his attempted shy at the stumps.

The Titans, batting first, had earlier fought back from a desperate position to post 163-5 from their 20 overs.

Henry Davids and David Wiese made contrasting half-centuries to rescue the South Africans from 82-5, the former playing anchorman to end unbeaten on 59 and all-rounder Wiese providing late fireworks to finish on 61 not out off just 28 deliveries.

The Sixers made a storming start in reply as Stephen O'Keefe (32), elevated to the top of the order in Shane Watson's absence, and Michael Lumb (33) shared a 54-run partnership inside five overs.

But the Australian side were then guilty of letting the Titans back into the game with two kamikaze run-outs resulting in the demise of Nic Maddison and Steve Smith.

Moises Henriques (28) and Ben Rohrer (21) steadied the ship but the outcome of the match remained in the balance right until Cummins and Starc scampered a run off the final delivery.


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