KEY POINTS
- Babar Azam’s classy 58 off 42 balls anchored the Sixers’ innings.
- Jack Edwards took a five-wicket haul to dismantle the Thunder’s chase and secure a 47-run victory.
SYDNEY, Australia: Pakistan’s batting maestro Babar Azam announced his true arrival in the Big Bash League, scoring a scintillating maiden half-century to propel the Sydney Sixers to a formidable total against cross-town rivals Sydney Thunder on Saturday.
An explosive 96 from Josh Philippe and a classy half-century from Babar Azam powered the Sydney Sixers to a convincing 47-run victory over the Sydney Thunder in the BBL.
Babar Silences Critics with Flawless Knock
Shrugging off an underwhelming start to his BBL 15 campaign, Babar delivered a statement innings at the Sydney Showground Stadium.
After Thunder captain David Warner sent the Sixers in to bat, the star opener weathered an early storm, including a testing yorker from Reece Topley, before easing into his sublime rhythm.
The knock decisively answered questions about his form in the tournament.
The highlights of Babar Azam’s first fifty in the Big Bash 👇
58 (42) in the Sydney Smash! #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/xm5rSaSRD4
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 20, 2025
Maiden Fifty Guides Sixers’ Charge
The right-hander announced his intent with a signature cover drive off Nathan McAndrew and proceeded to orchestrate the innings.
Blending pristine timing with calculated aggression, Babar brought up his milestone fifty off 38 deliveries.
He was eventually dismissed for a well-made 58 off 42 balls, but his innings, studded with five fours and two sixes, had already laid a powerful foundation.
Formidable Partnership with Philippe
Babar’s efforts were magnified by a devastating partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe.
The duo added a match-defining 140 runs for the second wicket, with Philippe racing to 96 from just 57 deliveries. Their union dismantled the Thunder attack and shifted the momentum irrevocably in the Sixers’ favour.
‘The Babar Azam Cover Drive’ ™️#BBL15 pic.twitter.com/f23lqz1UMI
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 20, 2025
Sixers Post Commanding Total
The partnership set the stage for the Sixers to finish strongly, posting a challenging 198 for 5 in their 20 overs.
The total proved a psychological and tactical advantage, putting the Thunder under immediate scoreboard pressure in their chase.
The Thunder’s chase never gained momentum, crumbling early to 17/3. A brisk 51 from Sam Billings and 41 from Shadab Khan offered fleeting resistance, but the innings folded for 151 in 19.1 overs.
Jack Edwards was the unlikely hero with the ball for the Sixers, claiming a brilliant five-wicket haul (5/26), while Joel Davies chipped in with 3/24.
BABAR AZAM OUT FOR 2!#BBL15 pic.twitter.com/fqRiu8mewK
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 14, 2025
Philippe was named Player of the Match for his match-defining knock, which earned the Sixers their first win of the season and left the Thunder still searching for theirs.
From Slow Start to Signature Performance
The innings marked a dramatic and timely turnaround for Babar, whose first two matches for the Sixers yielded just 11 combined runs.
This signature performance on the derby stage served as a potent reminder of his world-class pedigree, providing a significant boost to the Sixers’ middle-order prospects as they push for a playoff spot in BBL 15.
