Stunning match-winning knock a 'stress relief' for Kerr

Sydney Sixers finals hero Hayden Kerr conceded he would have hated to see the Fox Cricket statistics as he walked out to bat last night.

And with 52 runs at 17 from his seven knocks in KFC BBL|11 prior to the Challenger final against the Adelaide Strikers, it's not hard to see why.

But Kerr, who opened the batting for the Sixers in BBL|09, is a genuine allrounder as he proved with his 62 not out against Victoria in his Marsh Sheffield Shield debut just prior to this season's Big Bash.

Thrust into the batting spotlight at the top of the order last night following Josh Philippe's positive COVID-19 diagnosis and Daniel Hughes being ruled out with an ankle injury, the 25-year-old played the finest knock of his career to date, his 98no getting Sixers home in a final-ball thriller at the SCG.

"It's probably a bit of a stress relief actually," Kerr said of his 58-ball innings. "Because now I've got both dimensions to add to the team and it's not really relying on one performance, so I feel like it gives me a bit of freedom in the way I play."

It was the right-hander's first half-century of his BBL career, but his career T20 average of 11 before last night is more reflective of his previous batting position at No.8 than his true ability.

"Personally, it just plants that seed of belief that I do belong here," he said. "I've always struggled with that because I probably averaged seven or eight, I'd hate to see the Fox Cricket statistics when I walk out to bat just from where I bat in the order down at eight.

"I probably, on average, get three balls a game if I'm lucky and I've got to do my best to clear the pickets so the statistics that I've produced over the last three years probably aren't reflective of me as a batsman.

"But I'm really happy to come out and do that performance tonight because it does prove to myself, my teammates and everyone else that I should be here."

Kerr rode his luck during his stunning match-winning innings – Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey missed a stumping off Matt Short from the first ball of the Sixers chase, while he was also put down in the deep by Matthew Renshaw on 16.

It's a complete 360 for Kerr, who said he was originally signed by the Sixers a couple of years ago as a batting allrounder.

Indeed, he opened the batting in one of the Sixers' matches in that BBL|09 season where he made a four-ball duck in a tied Sydney Smash against the Thunder that the Sixers won in a Super Over.

"I was pretty much a batting allrounder, I didn't really bowl a whole lot," he said.

"I've changed a few things in the last couple of years and developed that side of myself (bowling) and the batting has kind of gone on the backburner, but I've still been going away in grade cricket.

"I'm not going to say I was certain I was going to succeed because I had plenty of luck as well. 

"First ball of my innings I should have been out and maybe 10th ball as well, so I rode my luck and it was just good to come out with the win."

Kerr, who is the second highest wicket-taker in BBL|11 with 24 behind Strikers captain Peter Siddle on 30, also opens the batting in Premier cricket for Sydney University and the Gold Coast and has struck 352 runs at 39 so far this summer.

Sixers captain Moises Henriques said Kerr's bowling success in the tournament had help build the allrounder's confidence with both bat and ball.

"He was a pretty clear choice for us tonight to go up to the top, and the way he held his nerve in those last three to four overs, beautifully supported by Sean (Abbott) as well (was impressive)," Henriques said.

"That was a pretty special win, especially considering all the lead up and everything that's gone on."

Kerr's career-best innings (his previous highest score in the BBL was 22 in their last match) keeps the Sixers' historic three-peat dream alive against the Perth Scorchers in the decider on Friday night.

BBL|11 Final

Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers

Friday, January 28, Marvel Stadium, 7.40pm

Seven, Fox Cricket, Kayo and SEN