Big Bash Daily: Sixers march on as Dan Christian shows ageless class

Dan Christian's unbeaten half century clinched victory for table-topping Sydney Sixers after Brisbane Heat had threatened to defend a total of 148

Champions march on

It was closer than maybe it might have been, but the experience of Dan Christian dragged Sydney Sixers over the line against Brisbane Heat on Sunday.

A top order collapse had given oxygen to what initially seemed a below-par batting effort from Chris Lynn’s side.

But after Josh Philippe, Jack Edwards, James Vince and Jordan Silk all fell within the first nine overs of the chase, it was left to Christian and captain Daniel Hughes to put the pieces back together.

They did so impeccably, dragging the score from 54 for 4 to 126 for 5, before three quick wickets – of Hughes, Carlos Brathwaite and Steve O’Keefe – appeared to have given Heat a reprieve.

But in the next nine deliveries, Christian took charge: 19 runs were added and No.10 Jackson Bird didn’t face a single ball. Instead, the ageless allrounder got the job done.

Needing 11 runs to win going into the final over, he hit the first delivery from Xavier Bartlett for six and the last one for a boundary. Job done for the reigning champions, who march on.

^{Mujeeb Ur Rahman has taken 14 wickets in eight games}

Chris Lynn’s lone hand

Only Lynn appeared to truly get going, back in his side from the start following a spell on the sidelines with injury. He made a partial return as an X Factor replacement during a defeat against Sydney Thunder, before returning fully to the playing XI in the last two games against Melbourne Stars and Sydney Sixers.

In that time, he has made scores of 30, 48 and 56 – coming out on the right end of just one game. Around him, others have struggled for regular runs. Max Bryant, in four more games than Lynn, has managed three fewer runs.

Beyond the duo, only Jimmy Peirson has managed more than 99 competition runs – a worrying statistic for Darren Lehmann’s men.

Where they have benefited, however, is in the form of Mark Steketee and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Between them, they have shared 30 wickets, with Mujeeb’s haul of 14 coming at an economy rate of just 6.26.

Only Jhye Richardson has picked up more tournament scalps than Steketee.

Overseas pair do the trick for Sixers

It was Christian with the bat, but Carlos Brathwaite and Jake Ball claimed seven wickets between them in the first half of the game.

For the overseas pair, they were timely contributions. Ball has proven expensive in his three games to date, while Brathwaite has been ever-present in Sixers’ campaign without making any substantial contribution.

Remarkably, in six innings, he has only made it past four once but he has now taken 11 wickets.