Starc's Career-Best Figures Help Sixers Reach BBL Qualifier

Mitchell Starc's four-wicket haul and half-centuries from Steve Smith and Sam Curran propelled Sydney Sixers into the BBL Qualifier against Perth Scorchers. Starc's 4-35 restricted Brisbane Heat to 171-9, while Smith scored 54 and Curran smashed an unbeaten 53, guiding Sixers to a five-wicket win. Curran was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance. Babar was unhappy two days earlier in the match against Sydney Thunder when Smith knocked back a single so he could keep the strike for the power surge, from which he took 32 runs. Babar appeared to have got over that incident. In the field, Smith dropped what would have been a cracking catch at gully and Babar ran across and gave him an encouraging tap on the back and a few words of support. Neser got his eye in for two deliveries and then carted Starc for three consecutive boundaries. He took a liking to Jack Edwards in the next over, hitting two sixes over long-on and a slashed four over cover to breath some life into the Heat innings with the busy McSweeney. Michael Neser's explosive cameo (35 off 14) and Nathan McSweeney's steady 69* helped Brisbane Heat post a competitive 171-9. Steve Smith's 54 and Sam Curran's unbeaten 53 led Sydney Sixers' chase, but Heat's bowlers Zaman Khan and Xavier Bartlett kept them under pressure. Dramatic moments followed with Neser's near-runout of Curran and a dropped catch. Sydney Sixers 177 for 5 (Smith 54, Curran 53*, Bartlett 2-32) beat Brisbane Heat 171 for 9 (McSweeney 69*, Neser 35, Starc 4-35, Curran 2-37) by five wickets