Abbott and Babar Help Sixers Extend Dominance Over Renegades

On New Year's Day at Marvel Stadium, the Sydney Sixers extended their winning streak by beating the Melbourne Renegades by six wickets, and finished at 168/4 in BBL 15. 

Babar Finds His Rhythm as Sixers Stay Calm Under Pressure

By the tenth over, the Sixers were 69/2, which was slightly behind the required run rate. Babar Azam steadied the innings and scored an unbeaten 58 off 46 balls, just in time with smooth and timely acceleration.

Captain Moises Henriques added support with 23, and their partnership shifted momentum. After Henriques were dismissed, Joel Davies came in and delivered a 34 off 15 balls to push the Sixers toward victory. 

Babar sealed the win with a classy cover drive to the boundary with five balls remaining. It was his second half-century in three matches and a huge boost to team morale.

Abbott Leads Bowling Charge as Renegades Miss Opportunity

The Renegades got off to a strong start and looked on course to post a large total. Josh Brown began with a scalding 43 off 19 balls, 22 of them in one over against Ben Dwarshuis, helping the Renegades reach 54/1 after the first five overs.

But once Brown fell to Hayden Kerr, the innings gradually lost momentum. The standout was Sean Abbott, who produced an exceptional spell. Finishing with 3 for 16, he restricted scoring and claimed vital breakthroughs, earning Player of the Match recognition.

Reflecting on conditions, Abbott said:

"It was a pretty tough wicket there (for batting). Babar had to go through a few different stages in that innings, but once we got up and going with a couple of partnerships, it looked like he did it in first gear."

The pitch was an improvement on last season, but the slow outfield made scoring difficult for the batsmen. Jake Fraser -McGurk scored 38, but the Renegades could not translate initial momentum into a more decisive overall.

What Comes Next for Both Teams

The loss also places the Renegades 1-3 on the ladder because they are back in an essential Melbourne derby against the Stars at MCG, which they hope will rebuild their consistency.

In the meantime, the Sixers rise to 2-3 and will be heading to Coffs Harbour to meet the Brisbane Heat. Since the tide has turned in their favour, they will look to carry this confidence forward.

The game solidified the same story: once the Sixers play towards their best, they become a legitimate threat to any rival in the game.