Cockbain hit 65 off 38 balls. © Getty
A sixth successive victory helped Adelaide Strikers take one step closer to a berth in the final of the 11th season of the Big Bash League as they defeated Sydney Thunder by a slender six-run margin at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday (January 23). The Strikers, who have won the Eliminator and Knockout games, will face Sydney Sixers in the Challenger at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 26, with the winner of that clash will take on Perth Scorchers in the final on January 28.

Ian Cockbain struck his second half-century in this edition, scoring a 38-ball 65 - which included six fours and three sixes - to power the Strikers to 184 for 6. Jason Sangha (61 off 43) and Alex Ross (56 off 39) then help Thunder in the hunt as they put on a 90-run partnership for the third wicket.

It came down to 14 off the last over, with Ross getting the strike for the second ball. He struck a four off Harry Conway before being beaten by a slower delivery. Conway closed out the game in the next two balls as he got Ross to top-edge to short fine before bagging the wicket of Ben Cutting. Only seven runs came in the final over, including one leg bye, as Thunder fell short.

Earlier, opting to bat, Matthew Short and Alex Carey provided the platform for the Strikers with their useful contributions at the top of the order. Carey scored 23 while Short hit 39, with the latter putting on a 50-run stand with Cockbain. Thunder picked quick wickets, including that of Cockbain, leading into the death overs. But Matt Renshaw and Thomas Kelly put on a brisk 31-run stand that helped the Strikers finish in excess of 180.

Alex Hales was dismissed early in the chase while Usman Khawaja's promising stand with Sangha came to an end in the seventh over as Short picked up the wicket of the Thunder captain. The Sangha-Ross stand lasted for nearly 10 overs but the Strikers hit back with quick wickets, leaving Thunder at 150/4 at the end of the 17th over, needing 35 more. Conway gave away 12 in the 18th over, including two fours by Cutting. Siddle, despite being hit for a four by Cutting, conceded only 9 in the penultimate over while Conway did the star turn in the final over.

Brief scores: Adelaide Strikers 184/6 in 20 overs (Ian Cockbain 65, Matthew Short 39; Tanveer Sangha 2-15) beat Sydney Thunder178/6 in 20 overs (Jason Sangha 61, Alex Ross 56; Harry Conway 2-33) by 6 runs