Lyon has Hurricanes in a spin as Sixers win
Nathan Lyon sent a message to the Australian selectors while Brad Haddin showed he had no intention of slowing down in the Sydney Sixers’ 95-run demolition of Hobart at the SCG on Sunday.
Lyon put an exclamation point on his bid to earn a spot on the plane for next year’s T20 World Cup in India with a starring performance, taking 5-23.
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Overlooked for Australia’s limited overs teams for most of his career, the country’s most successful Test off-spinner showed he was a game-winner no matter the colour of the ball in his hands.
After his side posted 7-186 – thanks to a whirlwind half century from retired Test keeper Brad Haddin – Lyon sent the Hurricanes into a tailspin from the first over.
After removing Tim Paine with the fourth ball of the innings, he claimed the prized scalp of Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara for a golden duck the next ball, to have the visitors languishing at 2-0.
Before the match, Lyon reiterated his desire to break into the Australian limited overs sides and he hardly could have done more to enhance his claims in front of 20,072 at the SCG.
The Sixers, last year’s runners up, strolled to their first win of the season as the Hurricanes turned belly up with George Bailey (62 not out) the only Hobart batsman to make double figures.
When dangerman Ben Dunk was clean bowled by Doug Bollinger, the Hurricanes were in a deep hole at 3-4.
And when Dan Christian was run out thanks to a stellar Nic Maddinson throw in the fifth over, the game was as good as over.
Earlier the Sixers posted 7-186 from their 20 overs after 38-year-old Haddin smashed 72 off 45 balls.
He was dropped by Jonathan Wells – albeit a tough chance – on two and went about making the Hurricanes pay.
He belted the Hurricanes attack to all corners of the park with eight fours and two sixes before he was caught in the deep going after Cameron Boyce.
Boyce, the incumbent Australian T20 spinner, was the best of the Hurricanes bowlers, taking 2-25 and the key wickets of Haddin and Nic Maddinson, but was out-pointed by Lyon.
– AAP