Melbourne Stars captain Glenn Maxwell struck his first Big Bash League century on Wednesday night – and he did it in his trademark freakish fashion.
But Sydney Sixers opener Josh Philippe responded with a phenomenal knock of his own to lead the men in pink to a seven-wicket win with two balls to spare.
The 24-year-old, widely touted as a future international mainstay in all three formats, plundered an unbeaten 99 from just 61 balls as the Sixers hunted down the Stars’ total of 177 at the MCG.
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In an innings packed with textbook strokes and inventive shots, Philippe registered 11 fours and two sixes as the Sixers bolstered their top-of-the-table standing.
Earlier in the night, Maxwell had smashed 103 from just 57, pummeling 12 fours and three sixes on the way.
Batting at No.4, the T20 World Cup all-rounder arrived at the crease at 2-6 before dragging his team out of the doldrums.
He launched a switch-hit four in the 90s that left the Fox Cricket commentators stunned.
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“How do you stop this?” said former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Ex-Australia all-rounder Brendon Julian replied: “You can’t!”.
Haddin piled on praise.
“Just incredible batting,” Haddin said.
“It’s great innovation. It’s skill out of the very highest class. I’m so jealous of players like Maxi.”
The 33-year-old brought up his ton in just 54 balls.
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“Incredible innings. High class from an unbelievable player … The Stars were in all sorts of trouble. You won’t see a better T20 hundred than that.”
Philippe’s 99 marks the fifth time a male Sixers player has reached the 90s and not gone on to make a ton.
The Sixers are the only franchise of the eight that’s yet to register a century in the men’s tournament.
Adulation for both Maxwell and Philippe on social media has come thick and fast.
https://twitter.com/ShaneWarne/status/1471059992119681027https://twitter.com/rdhinds/status/1471048279219523586https://twitter.com/ChloeAmandaB/status/1471051910849257474https://twitter.com/AlexHartley93/status/1471052111156809728https://twitter.com/PhilGould15/status/1471079578365935616https://twitter.com/ChloeAmandaB/status/1471081323062198274
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