Unlikely hero Josh Philippe has fired the Sydney Sixers to a thumping nine-wicket upset win over the Hobart Hurricanes to reinforce their Big Bash League credentials.
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Philippe hit 86 not out (off 49) in a breakout performance to all but lock up a finals berth for the Sixers after chasing down the Hurricanes' target of 173 in 17.1 overs.
After beginning the season as $8 outsiders, and widely tipped for the wooden spoon, the Sixers moved into second spot with just three games remaining.
The Sixers were struggling at 1-6 after James Faulkner struck with just the fourth ball of the innings to remove Daniel Hughes for six.
However, Philippe and James Vince (74 not out) put on a game-turning 167-run partnership.
Philippe, 21, was moved up the order into the opening spot for the out-of-form Jack Edwards in their win over Brisbane earlier in the week.
After not being offered a contract by the Perth Scorchers, he was snapped up by the Sixers as a keeper-batsman and has repaid the faith shown in him.
He failed to fire in the middle order for the Sixers this season but seems to have found a home in the No.1 spot.
He hit nine fours and three sixes during a swashbuckling innings.
Earlier, Matthew Wade sent yet another message to the Australian selectors with his fourth 50 of the tournament that followed on from his 84 not out in the Hurricanes' 10-wicket thumping of the Heat two days earlier.
Wade now has 387 runs for the tournament to be second on the scorers' list behind opening partner D'Arcy Short, who helped the Hurricanes get off to a flying start with 32 from 26-balls.
Wade and Ben McDermott (41) put on 67 runs for the third wicket to put their side in a commanding position after being sent in to bat by the Sixers however they had no answer for Philippe.
"I kept whacking them but he (Vince) reminded me it's probably best if I stick around until the end and get a not out," Philippe said.
Hobart skipper Wade said his side wouldn't be hitting the panic button and insisted they were well placed after a tough five-game road trip.
"It's not a game that I walked off and thought we bowled really poorly and I thought we batted really well," Wade said.
"They were just too good."
Australian Associated Press
