Johannesburg: Combined with a blistering bowling attack and an almost unprecedented batting assault by Michael Lumb, Sydney Sixers trounced Highveld Lions by 10 wickets with 7.3 overs to spare in the final of the Champions League T20 here on Sunday.
Put into bat, South African team Lions were skittled out for just 121 in their 20 overs and at one stage it looked like they wouldn’t even reach the 100-run mark.
Nathan McCullum (3-24) and Josh Hazlewood (3-22) did most of the damage for the Sixers; the Lions were 32-5 after seven overs.
Jean Symes then made 51 for the home team and, along with a couple of other useful contributions, Highveld Lions were able to reach 121, just barely over six runs an over.
That target was unlikely to be enough, especially against a side like Sydney, who have been unbeatable in the competition.
To be sure, both Lumb and skipper Brad Haddin started slowly, but after a few overs a full-blooded assault was launched by the former, replete with a eight fours and five sixes in his unbeaten knock of 82 from just 42 deliveries.
Haddin played a supporting role and finished not out on 37 from 33.
Lumb scored the most runs in the tournament and was named Man-of-the-Match. Mitchell Starc, who picked up one wicket in the final, was named Man-of-the-Series; he claimed the most wickets in the event.
“The prep for this game was outstanding. The positive we can take is the whole team contributed at various stages,” Haddin said of the game. (Agencies)
Brief scores:
Highveld Lions: 121-10, 20 overs (J Symes 51; J Hazlewood 3-22)
Sydney Sixers: (124-0, 12.3 overs (M Lumb not out 82; S Tanvir 0-16)
