Pakistan’s premier batter Babar Azam delivered a calm and commanding performance to steer Sydney Sixers to a six-wicket victory over Melbourne Renegades in their Big Bash League Season 15 clash at Docklands Stadium on Thursday.
The highly anticipated contest, which also featured Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, began with the Sixers winning the toss and opting to bowl first — a decision that paid early dividends.
Melbourne’s innings stumbled almost immediately as Tim Seifert was dismissed for eight within the opening two overs, leaving the hosts struggling at 10 for 1. Rizwan then attempted to rebuild alongside Josh Brown, but the partnership leaned heavily on Brown’s aggressive stroke play.
Brown counter-attacked in style, smashing 43 from just 19 deliveries, including three boundaries and four towering sixes. However, his dismissal by Hayden Kerr ended the brief resurgence. Rizwan failed to find momentum and departed shortly after, managing only six runs off ten balls.
Jake Fraser-McGurk provided some stability through the middle overs, compiling 38 from 29 balls with four fours before being removed by Sean Abbott after pushing the total past 100. Hassan Khan injected late energy with a rapid 39, featuring three sixes and a four, but his dismissal in the final over halted the Renegades’ finishing push.
Melbourne eventually closed on 164 for 9. Abbott led the Sixers’ bowling attack with three wickets, while Jack Edwards, Ben Dwarshuis and Hayden Kerr chipped in with two each.
Chasing 165, the Sixers got off to a steady start as Babar and Daniel Hughes added 46 for the opening stand. Hughes fell for 30 off 23 balls, but Babar remained unruffled at the crease.
Josh Philippe and skipper Moises Henriques played useful supporting roles, contributing 16 and a quick 23 respectively, to keep the chase on course. After the fourth wicket fell, Babar found the ideal partner in Joel Davies.
The pair stitched together an unbeaten 51-run partnership, guiding the Sixers home with five balls to spare. Babar finished on a composed 58 not out from 46 deliveries, striking four fours and a six, while Davies sealed the win with an explosive 34* off just 15 balls.
For the Renegades, Gurinder Sandhu claimed two wickets, with Will Sutherland and Matthew Spoors picking up one each.
The victory marked Sydney Sixers’ second win of the season, lifting them to fifth place on the points table. Melbourne Renegades remain seventh, with just one win to their name, ahead of only Sydney Thunder.
