BRISBANE: Zaman Khan wreaked havoc as Sydney Sixers openers Steve Smith and Babar Azam failed to deliver the right start and Babar again fell cheaply in a must-win against the Brisbane Heat in Big Bash League (PBL) 15.
Chasing 172, Babbar and Smith opened the innings for sixes, Smith finding his rhythm with a fresh century.
Former Australian captain Michael Nesser hit three boundaries in the opening over, taking his total to 15 in the first over.
However, momentum quickly changed. In the next over, fast bowler Xavier Bartlett dismissed Babar Azam cheaply.
The right-hander tried to chip a full-on leg delivery but delivered a simple catch at mid-on, conceding just one run off seven balls.
Smith failed to read a pinpoint yorker from Zaman Khan in the 16th over and smashed the stumps to complete his heroic innings of 54 off 40 balls.
Babar Azam has struggled for consistency in PPL 15, scoring 202 runs at an average of 25.25 in 10 matches, including two half-centuries. His strike rate is moderate at 104.12.
Sydney Sixers need to win this match to secure a place in the final four of the competition and keep their title alive.
Earlier, Brisbane Heat opted to bat first and scored 171-9.
Nathan McSweeney scored 69 off 54 balls with 8 fours while Michael Neser scored a blistering 35 off 14 balls including 5 fours and 2 sixes.
Mitchell Starc bowled for a six and took four wickets—a first in his short BBL career.
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