Sixers dominate Thunder for BBL Sydney derby win

Marquee man Babar Azam has finally hit form as Josh Philippe came agonisingly close to a first BBL century in the Sydney Sixers' 47-run defeat of rivals the Sydney Thunder.

The perennial heavyweight Sixers had been staring down the possibility of a 0-3 start to the summer on Saturday night before Philippe, who fell four short of a century, and Pakistan great Azam put on a 140-run stand to kickstart their season.

Set 199 for victory, the Thunder were left to rue a collapse of 3-17 inside the powerplay that included losing superstars Sam Konstas (2) and David Warner (2) in the same Jack Edwards over.

"I didn't really bowl that much when I was 18 or 19 but I quickly realised how hard batting was at this level, worked on the bowling," said Edwards, who finished with career-best figures of 5-26.

"It's nice that it's starting to come together."

Edwards' efforts helped the Sixers (5-198) skittle the Thunder, who had won the toss, for 151 with five balls remaining.

The defeat leaves last season's runners-up winless through two games, despite some stiff resistance from No.5 Sam Billings, who scored 51 off 28 balls.

"I felt they were 20 runs over par probably," Billings said.

"We saw how if you adapt and bowl and hit that heavy length, how much more difficult it is in the second innings. We just weren't quite at the races."

Azam failed to crack double digits in either of his first two knocks after arriving at the Sixers as one of the highest-profile signings in BBL history.

But the Pakistani opener made 58 off 42 balls, looking comfortable on an ENGIE Stadium deck more batter-friendly than that of previous summers.

"We weren't able to give him his hat in Perth because the game was rushed so we pretended tonight was his debut," Edwards said of Azam.

"He started the tournament brilliantly tonight."

Azam, who has scored more T20I half-centuries than anyone, passed 50 for the first time in the BBL with a single off Nathan McAndrew (2-41) in the power surge.

He eventually gloved English paceman Reece Topley (3-41) to wicketkeeper Billings, ending the fourth-highest partnership in Sixers history on review by the Thunder.

An umpire review cruelly denied Sixers wicketkeeper-batter Philippe the chance to kick on to a first T20 century in his 104th BBL game.

Batting at No.3 this summer, former opener Philippe clubbed four sixes on his way into the nineties to continue a great start to the tournament.

But just as Philippe, on 96, looked ready to become the third Sixers batsman to notch a ton, he sent McAndrew to Daniel Sams at backward point.

Sams had endured a sloppy night on the boundary rope at the ground's southern edge and replays cast doubt as to whether his hands were under the ball.

But the third umpire ruled a fair catch and Philippe missed out.

But Philippe was busy again during the Thunder's stay at the crease, stumping Matthew Gilkes (12) off Todd Murphy (1-15) in the first over.

The hosts were in deep trouble when Konstas and Warner both picked out fielders in the space of three Edwards deliveries.

Edwards then had the big wicket of Billings, with Kane Richardson doing well not to stumble onto the boundary rope as he took the catch at long on.

Shadab Khan (41) skied Edwards to reliable Jordan Silk at deep midwicket to hand Edwards his first T20 five-wicket haul and put the Sixers within reach of victory.