Mike Hussey glitters in Sydney Thunder's win over Sixers in BBL 2015 opener

Hussey scored an unbeaten 80 to guide Sydney Thunder to victory

Michael Hussey lit up the inaugural game of the fifth season of the Big Bash League (BBL) with a sparkling 80* off just 59 balls, before Shane Watson and Andre Russell ran through the Sydney Sixers line-up to hand the Sydney Thunder a thumping victory by 36 runs, thereby ending their 7-match losing streak.

Thunder lost Aiden Blizzard, who had an adventurous yet brief stay at the crease, early to Doug Bollinger in the second over. Hussey walked out to accompany Jacques Kallis and consolidated the brisk start given by Blizzard as they put together a 31-run stand for the second wicket before Nathan Lyon took a brilliant running catch diving forward to dismiss Kallis off the bowling of Sean Abbott.

Kallis’ dismissal brought Shane Watson (playing only his second BBL match) to the crease and he was given an immediate lease of life by Michael Lumb, who dropped a dolly at mid-off – a leading edge off Watson’s bat.

Watson whacked one four and one six, before eventually getting bowled by Lyon on 16 when he tried to cross-bat a straight delivery. Hussey, amidst all this, continued to show his class, as the veteran batsman smashed sixes off Jackson Bird, Sean Abbott and Trent Lawford.

Ben Rohrer then accompanied Hussey as the pair, punished the Sixers bowlers, hitting shots all around the ground during their partnership of 72. Rohrer departed on 30 off 20 balls in the 19th over with the score 141/4. Hussey finished in style with a four and a six in the last over off Doug Bollinger thereby leading the team to 158/4.

The Caribbean heavyweight, Andre Russell, who didn’t have time to flourish with the bat, more than made up for it with the ball, as his terrific yorker knocked over Brad Haddin to give the Sixers their first blow.

The all-rounder wasn’t done there, as he bowled Nic Maddinson as well for 7 in the fifth over to reduce the Sixers to 37/2. The Sixers couldn’t recover from those early blows, despite resistance from Lumb as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Watson was another Thunder player to have made up for his disappointment with the bat with some impressive bowling as he picked up three wickets, those of Jordan Silk, Lawford and Abbott in quick succession to leave the Sixers tottering at 80/7.

Russell came back and cleaned up Lyon to further deteriorate Sixers’ chances, and it was only a formality before the Sixers were bowled out for 122 in the 20^th over.

Watson and Russell picked up three wickets each, Clint McKay picked up two, while Kallis and Chris Green chipped in with one wicket each.

Scorecard: Sydney Thunders won the toss and chose to bat.

Sydney Thunder: 158/4, Overs 20.0

J Kallis	15(17)
A Blizzard	12 (7)
M Hussey	80* (59)
S Watson	16 (12)
B Rohrer	30 (20)
A Russell	4* (5)
Extras	1
Total	158/4

Bowling:

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets
J Bird	3	29	0
D Bollinger	4	33	1
J Botha	4	27	0
S Abbott	3	28	1
N Lyon	4	28	1
T Lawford	2	12	1

Sydney Sixers: 122, Overs 19.5

B Haddin	13 (11)
M Lumb	34 (27)
N Maddinson	7 (12)
J Silk	8 (8)
R Carters	8 (9)
J Botha	13 (17)
S Abbott	0(3)
T Lawford	4 (3)
N Lyon	4 (4)
J Bird	14* (15)
D Bollinger	9 (10)
Extras	8
Total	122

Bowling:

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets
C Green	2	14	1
G Sandhu	3	30	0
C McKay	2.5	11	2
A Russell	4	13	3
J Kallis	3	16	1
F Ahmed	3	22	0
S Watson	2	13	3

Sydney Thunders beat Sydney Sixers by 36 runs.

Man of the Match: Michael Hussey