Abbott creates history, Sixers sneak home over Strikers

Sean Abbott has become the KFC BBL's all-time leading wicket-taker as his Sydney Sixers snuck home in the last over against the Adelaide Strikers.

The 29-year-old allrounder – who was back in the Sixers' side after the birth of his first child Ella – moved past Ben Laughlin (111) as the most prolific bowler ever in the competition.

The right-armer, who now has 112 wickets in his 11 seasons in the BBL, also nabbed his 100th wicket for the Sixers (he has 10 for the Sydney Thunder) as he became the second bowler to reach the milestone for a single club after Andrew Tye achieved the feat for the Scorchers last night.

It took Abbott 83 matches to take over the mantle as the BBL's leading wicket-taker, eclipsing Laughlin's 96 games for the Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes.

His 3-24 off four overs helped restrict the Strikers to 8-147 off their 20 overs before he steered the Sixers home with a crucial 19 not out off 10 balls in a tense final over win.

Asked to bowl first by the Strikers, the Sixers were greeted by in-from Matt Short who flayed the first ball of the match through cover to the boundary.

He then proceeded to take 18 runs off the first Ben Dwarshuis over, hitting the third ball of the match over backward square leg and into the crowd.

But it was the milestone man Abbott who brought him undone when he induced a loose drive in the next over that was expertly held by veteran Dan Christian at point.

Abbott had his second an over later when Jake Weatherald ambitiously tried to launch him over wide long on but only succeeded in hitting it straight up in the air.

It meant Abbott was on a hat-trick chasing the wickets record, but they fairy-tale wasn't to be as he pushed it down leg for a wide.

Matthew Renshaw, who was in his first game back for the Strikers after representing Australia A, continued his good run of form this summer as he combined with Jon Wells for a 59-run third-wicket stand, which was Adelaide's highest partnership of the tournament so far.

But when they both fell with the score in the 80s to the wily Christian, it triggered a collapse as the Strikers slumped to 7-115.

Some late hitting from youngster Thomas Kelly (41 off 34 balls) in just his second BBL game at least gave the Strikers a competitive score to bowl at.

Christian, who also recently welcomed his first child Harper, was the other chief destroyer with the ball as he claimed 3-8 from three overs.

In reply, the Sixers' prolific openers Josh Philippe (23) and James Vince (21) both got starts before they were out in quick succession, and when Daniel Hughes also departed for seven, they fell to 3-63 and an upset looked on the cards.

Captain Moises Henriques (28) also got a start to put the Sixers back in control of the chase but when he and Christian fell in consecutive deliveries to Rashid Khan (3-20) in the 17th over the momentum swung back to the Strikers.

Jordan Silk (36 off 24 balls) combined with Abbott for a crucial 19-run partnership to put the Sixers on the cusp of victory before a six from young allrounder Hayden Kerr sealed the four-wicket win with four balls to spare.

Abbott said it was nice to get some time in the middle with the bat and get the opportunity to finish the game at the end.

He also said they were "pretty fortunate" to have someone like Kerr coming in at eight to help seal the match in the last over.

"He opened the batting for us a couple of years ago and scores a lot of runs in grade cricket opening the batting so although he's batting down at eight, he's probably not a number eight batter, so we're pretty blessed in our line-up to have him walking out at eight and icing the game there at the end," Abbott said on Fox Cricket after the match.

The win puts the Sixers level on points with the Perth Scorchers at the top of the BBL|11 table with four wins and a loss, although the undefeated Scorchers have a superior net run rate.

The Sixers next face the Sydney Thunder in the local derby on Boxing Day where they will be without England quick Chris Jordan who returns home after his five-game stint, while the fifth-placed Strikers take on the Brisbane Heat at home in two days' time.