Stunning Sixers romp into BBL/04 Final

 Hello everyone and welcome for the first semi final of the Big Blash League. Adelaide Strikers takes on Sydney Sixers in the semi final at Adelaide Oval. Both the team had played well in the whole league. It will be a important match for both team to qualify for the Finals. Sydney Sixers has won the toss, and elected to bat first.

 The squad for the first semi final BBL/04. 

Adelaide Strikers (13-man squad): Johan Botha (c), Travis Head, Brad Hodge, Ben Laughlin, Tim Ludeman, Gray Putland, Kane Richardson, Alex Ross, Craig Simmons, Kelvin Smith, Shaun Tait, Ryan TenDoeschaste, Adam Zampa.
Sydney Sixers (13-man squad): Moises Henriques (c), Sean Abbott, Doug Bollinger, Ryan Carters, Ed Cowan, Luke Doran, Brett Lee, Michael Lumb, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Stephen O'Keefe, Jordan Silk, Riki Wessels.

 Last time they met: 

 Adelaide Strikes 6-182 (Simmons 46, O'Keefe 1-21) beat Sydney Sixers 159 (Silk 67, Botha 2-27) by 23 runs on January 14, 2015.

 The form of the team for the semi finals BBL/04.

Adelaide Strikers: The Strikers have lost just the one game all season- a match in which they crumbled against the wily spin of the Sorchers veteran Brad Hogg, at Adelaide Oval. But that defeat has proven to be an anomaly for a team that has shocked everyone in BBL/04, with a dominance underpinned by an excellent all-round bowling attack and at least one batsman in their largely unsung order playing an influential innings. They will be boosted by a likely sell-out crowd and the return of Shaun Tait and possibly Brad Hodge to their XI and will be aiming to make it two wins over the Sixers in the space of 10 days.
Sydney Sixers: After a near-flawless start, the Sixers lost three of their last five matches but come into this clash with plenty of momentum after a thrilling win in the Sydney Smash on Thursday night. In-form batsman Jordan Silk has suddenly become an integral member of the Sixers middle order but he needs supports an explosive top three that has failed to fire consistently- Michael Lumb, Nic Maddinson and Riki Wessels. They'll have their work cut out to do so against the likes Kane Richardson, Shaun Tait, Ben Laughlin, Johan Botha ana Adam Zampa.

The Danger Men

Tim Ludeman: The surprise packet of BBL/04, Ludeman has displayed the kind of power hitting most punters didn't even know he possessed. Second to that, Ludeman Loves the Adelaide Oval. The long time Redbacks wicketkeeper has hit nine of his 10 maximums (the equal second most in the conpetition) at the ground en route to an average of 57.33.

Brett Lee: 'Binga' bid an emotional farewell to his beloved SCG on Thrusday night, but the still-lighting quick will no soubt be all business when the Sixers enter the coliseum that is the Adelaide Oval. Slightly down from his BBL (though still collecting a handy nine wickets at 26.44), Lee is a big-time player who thrives on big crowds and big atmosphere. Don't be surprised if the wily old veteran comes up with the goods when it matters most this final series.

 Sydney Sixers are into their second KFC T20 Big Blash League final after a clinical performance dismatled minor premiers Adelaide Strikers in front of a stunned Adelaide crowd of 52,633.

 Nic Maddinson was the star of the show for the Sixers, who now also qualify for the next year's lucrative Champions League tournament, blasting 85 from just 48 deliveries to propel the visitors to 4-181 a total the Strikers never looked like getting close to. 

 In the end, they were bowled out for a paltry 94 in their maiden BBL finals appearance, as Johan Botha's side suffered just a second defeat of what had until then been a memorable season.

 The writing was on the wall for the Strikers almost from the moment their first wicket fell, as Craig Simmons was caught behind from the bowling of Sean Abbott.

  Thereafter, it was a procession, as the biggest crowd even for a cricket match at the Adelaide Oval watched their side stumble in the face of scoreboard pressure and a more experienced finals opponent. 

 Only veteran Brad Hodge (20) and tailender Ben Laughlin (22) contributed more than 15 as the Strikers bowed out of the tournament with barely a whimper. Earlier, Michael Lumb (32 off 19) and new opening partner Riki Wessels (24 off 24) got off to a blistering start, creaming 41 from the initial stages as they laid the platform for a massive total.

 Lumb looked every chance of taking the innings by the scruff of the neck until he was run out, and after copping a nasty blow that lodged between the grille and peak of his helment, Wessels was undone by a Shaun Tait yorker to leave the Sixers at 2-72 in the 10th over. It was an outstanding spell from Tait, who took 1-13 off three overs to put the brakes on the visitors rapidly opening.

 Maddinson then picked up the slack, Pacing his innings intelligently as he moved clear of his peers as the man with the most sixes in BBL/04, bringing up his 50 with a fourth maximum of the innings and 15th of the tournament.

 The left hander then raced to 85 from 48 deliveries to push the Sixers innings along impressively, finding the fence regularly before being bowled by Kane Richardson. The Strikers got the double breakthrough courtesy of Ben Laughlin, who trapped in-form danger man Jordan Silk plumb lbw for three.

 Sixers Skipper Moisses Henriques (27 not out off 19) and keeper batsman Ryan Carters (8 not out off 5) then continued the momentum, pushing the fourth-placed side to a total that the Strikers never threatened.

 Doug Bollinger weighed in with three wickets, Abbott took 2-14 and Nathan Lyon, who was particularly impressive in taking 2-26, where all among the multiple wicket-takers as the Strikers offered multiple skied chances to the Sixers fieldsmen who gleefully accepted the offerings as the contest became increasingly one-sided.
 The Sixers now face the winner of the Perth Scochers and Melbourne Stars at Manuka Oval in Canbera on Wednesday January 28th, 2015. Do join us for the game between Perth Scochers and Melbourne Stars from Perth on January 24th, 2015. Until then, it's goodbye and take care!!