Superb Strikers leave Sixers without a win

The score: Adelaide Strikers 3-167 (Carey 83no, Wells 33no; Dwarshuis 2-41) beat Sydney Sixers 8-161 (Silk 50; Rashid Khan 2-22, Stanlake 2-31) by six runs

Match in a tweet: Another BBL thriller! Carey stars as Strikers survive late Sixers surge, who go zero from three to start #BBL07

The hero: Alex Carey spent much of last season stamping himself as a player of enormous potential, and this summer he has continued to deliver, shifting his game to suit the fast and furious format of Twenty20. Opening the batting tonight, he spent the full 20 overs at the crease, clubbing eight fours and two sixes in a superb 83no from 59 balls.

The support cast: It was another solid team effort from Adelaide, with Jono Wells (33no) and Travis Head (29) supporting Carey, and Rashid Khan (2-22) and Peter Siddle (0-17) incisive and economical respectively. Billy Stanlake also bowled well, returning 2-31, while after being hit for six from the first ball of the final over, Michael Neser delivered a series of yorkers to coolly close out the contest. 

The near miracle: The Sixers were dead and buried at 7-127 in the 18th over when Ben Dwarshuis joined Steve O'Keefe in the middle. The unlikely pair proceeded to give the Strikers the shock of their lives, combining for a 34-run stand in the space of just 16 balls. It was left to O'Keefe (28 off 15) to hit a six from the final ball to send the match into a Super Over, but he was clean bowled by Neser, with Dwarshuis (21no off 11) unbeaten at the other end. 

The silly point: Look mum, no hands!

The moment: Few would have expected the diminutive Wells to be the proud owner of the longest six of BBL|07 so far, but that's indeed the case after his 104-metre monster over midwicket, which wound up on the roof of the SCG's Bill O'Reilly Stand.

The consolation effort: Jordan Silk wasn't selected in the Sixers' first two matches of the tournament but the right-hander will be tough to leave out next time after a dashing 50 from 32 balls.

The Sixers shake-up: Sixers captain Moises Henriques was ruled out with an illness, replaced in the side by Silk. Peter Nevill and Doug Bollinger also came out of the side, with Dwarshuis and Will Somerville also coming in. The changes made for a strangely-balanced XI, which was borne out in the fact that O'Keefe didn't bowl a single over, though the spinner did produce a sparkling late cameo with the bat to almost steal the game. 

The victim: It was a mixed night for Sixers left-arm quick Dwarshuis, who took two wickets but was also deposited into the stands three times – including Wells' effort onto the roof. Playing his first game of the tournament, Dwarshuis finished with 2-41 from his four overs, though his late cameo with the bat was something to behold. 

The Fantasy wrap: Carey took the honours comfortably, snaring players 121 points, while Dwarshuis' late runs added to his two wickets for 91 points, and Silk rounded out the top three with 70 points. 

The classic catch: It was just Carey's night… this was a gem.

The next stops: Adelaide head home for a New Year's Eve date with Brisbane Heat, while the Sixers are in action the following day, January 1, against defending champs the Scorchers in Perth. 

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