In another match, Sydney Sixers qualified for the semi-finals with a dramatic three-wicket win over Melbourne Stars.
Needing a win at all cost to qualify for the semis, the Sixers started poorly while chasing 157. They kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and were reduced to 97 for 6 in the 15th over, before a 59-run partnership off only 28 balls between Johan Botha (25 off 13) and Sean Abbott (33 off 17) took them home.
Earlier, the Stars fired on all cylinders as their openers Rob Quiney (35) and Luke Wright (62) added 59 off only 36 balls before the former was sent back by Moises Henriques. Another fifty-plus partnership between Wright and Kevin Pietersen (39) took the Melbourne-based outfit to 130 in the 16th over. However, they lost some quick wickets in the slog overs which did not give their innings the required impetus to post a huge total as they were reduced to 156.
Let us see how Twitter reacted to the match:
Well played @johan_botha cool under pressure 2 guide his team home along with @seanabbott77 nice striking to move into finals. Renegades ?
— Darren Berry (@ChuckBerry1969) January 21, 2017
Take a bow @seanabbott77 & @johan_botha! Ridiculous partnership to get home with an over to spare! #smashemsixers #BBL06
— Max Bryden (@max_smart) January 21, 2017
. @seanabbott77 and @johan_botha (59) have put on the best 7th wicket partnership in BBLs!!What a time to achieve this #BBL06 @SixersBBL
— Cricket21 (@Cricket21_) January 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/nic_savage1/status/822767902700900352
That's one hell of a partnership between @johan_botha & @seanabbott77. They certainly upset @StarsBBL as well @RenegadesBBL too out of blue
— Arunkanth Yadav (@arun_ky) January 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/_Wadeos/status/822769231271841792
Never unhappy to see Sean Abbott enjoying his cricket. #BBL06 @SixersBBL
— Andy Maher (@AndyMaherDFA) January 21, 2017
Great win @SixersBBL setup by our fightback with ball & finished with some great lower order partnership #WhoopWhoop #smashemsixers
— Craig Piper (@bdog_piper) January 21, 2017
Congrats Sabba @seanabbott77 on finishing #BBL06 group stage as highest wicket taker and with a match winning innings. Well done mate!
— Matthew Taylor (@MattyA_Taylor) January 21, 2017
Stars…not again guys…#BBL06 pic.twitter.com/ZflX0gmzBq
— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) January 21, 2017