Sydney Sixers opener Josh Philippe has hailed Babar Azam’s influence at the crease after the pair dismantled Sydney Thunder in the Sydney Smash and kick-started the Sixers’ Big Bash campaign.
“Batting with Babar was outstanding,” Philippe said after the game. “He’s incredibly calm out there and kept me on track. He knows how to guide you through different phases of the innings and just keeps things simple, which makes a huge difference out in the middle.”
The praise came on a night where Babar scored his maiden BBL half-century and helped power the Sixers to a dominant win at the SCG.
On a true batting surface, in sharp contrast to the slower pitches often seen at Engie Stadium, the Sixers posted 198 for 5 and then comfortably defended it to claim bragging rights in the crosstown rivalry.
Under pressure after scores of 2 and 9 in his first two games, Babar Azam responded with a controlled 58 off 42 balls, combining with Philippe in a 140-run stand for the second wicket. Philippe, who entered the season in form after recent international appearances for Australia, top-scored with 96 off 57 balls, falling in the final over just short of a hundred.
Babar initially played a watchful role, rotating strike while Daniel Hughes attacked in the powerplay. Once Hughes was bowled by Reece Topley, Babar and Philippe took full control. Babar’s innings featured classical strokes, including a cover drive early in his stay and a top‑edged six off Daniel Sams that helped him to his first BBL fifty.
Philippe dominated the middle overs, targeting spinners Shadab Khan and Tanveer Sangha with clean hitting down the ground and over the leg side, while Babar’s composure and tempo allowed the Sixers’ innings to build steadily before the late surge.
In reply, Thunder were set a record chase at the venue but slumped to 17 for 3, with Jack Edwards removing Sam Konstas and David Warner, who returned from a side injury and batted at No. 3, in a similar fashion with short deliveries.
Edwards finished with 5 for 26 as Thunder, despite efforts from Sam Billings (51) and Shadab (41), never seriously challenged the target and slipped to their second straight defeat of the season.
For the Sixers, the result ended their early losing streak and underlined Babar’s growing role at the top of the order, something Philippe was quick to acknowledge as central to his own match-winning innings.
