All-round Sixers emerge champs

Cricket CLT20 final:Lumbs unbeaten 82 leaves Lions high and dry

Sydney Sixers produced an all-round clinical display to clinch the Champions League Twenty20 title with a dominating 10-wicket victory over Highveld Lions in a lop-sided summit clash here on Sunday night.

Sixers first rode on a brilliant bowling display by spinner Nathan McCullum (3-24) and pacer Josh Hazlewood (3-22) to dismiss Highveld Lions for a modest 121 in their stipulated 20 overs after winning the toss and electing to field.

The Australian side then returned to overhaul the target with 7.3 overs to spare, thanks to some powerful hitting by opener Michael Lumb and Brad Haddin, who notched up an unbeaten 124 run partnership.

Chasing 122 to win, Lumb annihilated the Lions with eight fours and five sixes in his 42-ball 82-run unbeaten innings, while his opening partner Haddin blasted four boundaries and a six in his 33-ball 38 not out.

The openers were in marauding form as they toyed with Lions bowlers, taking them to the cleaners every now and then.

They were particularly harsh on Chris Morris and Aaron Phangiso as the bowlers leaked 54 in four overs combined.

Lumb blasted Pretorius for a six over deep wicket off the first ball, pulled the next over fine leg and then sent the third delivery across the boundary line as well to trigger celebration for Sixers.

Earlier, McCullum and Hazlewood claimed three wickets each to help Sixers dismiss Lions for 121.

Sixers broke the back bone of Lions as they reduced them to 9/4 in just 3.3 overs after electing to field.

Jean Symes top-scored with a 46-ball 51 to help Lions put up a total or else things could have been more embarrassing for the home team at the New Wanderers Stadium.
Symes added 23 runs with Sohail Tanvir for the fifth wicket to start the recovery but the Pakistani player lost his wicket in the seventh over as Lions lost half their side with just 32 on board.

Symes then forged a 41-run partnership with Thami Tsolekile for the sixth wicket and another 38 with Dwaine Pretorius for the seventh wicket to help Lions cross the 100-mark. Symes had eight fours in his 46-ball innings.

score board

HIGHVELD LIONS: Alviro Petersen c McCullum b O'Keefe 1, Gulam Bodi c Rohrer b McCullum 6, Quinton de Kock c O'Keefe b Hazlewood 1, Neil McKenzie c Rohrer b Hazlewood 0, Sohail Tanvir lbw McCullum 11, Jean Symes c Haddin b Hazlewood 51, Thami Tsolekile c O'Keefe b McCullum 20, Dwaine Pretorius (run out) 21, Chris Morris (run out) 5, Aaron Phangiso c Hazlewood b Starc 3, Dirk Nannes (not out) 0. Extras (LB-1, W-1) 2. Total (all out, 20 overs) 121.

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-8, 3-8, 4-9, 5-32, 6-73, 7-111, 8-112, 9-120.

Bowling: Nathan McCullum 4-0-24-3, Steve O'Keefe 4-0-11-1, Josh Hazlewood 4-1-22-3, Mitchell Starc 4-0-36-1, Pat Cummins 4-0-27-0.

Sydney Sixers: Michael Lumb (not out) 82, Brad Haddin (not out) 38. Extras (W-4) 4.  Total (for no loss, 12.3 overs) 124.

Bowling: Sohail Tanvir 3-0-16-0, Dirk Nannes 4-0-29-0, Chris Morris 2-0-25-0, Aaron Phangiso 2-0-29-0, Jean Symes 1-0-9-0, Dwaine Pretorius 0.3-0-16-0.