Sixers rain on Thunder's parade - Brisbane Times

Line of fire ... the Thunder’s Cameron Borgas ducks a bouncer from Mitchell Starc. Photo: Getty Images

David Warner, the whisper went, had been practising the shot before the match.

Described as being ''tennis-like'', the Sixers source reckons the Australian opener's latest trick is even more audacious than the ramp or even his signature switch hit. It involves Warner holding the bat like a racquet, deciding whether to hit a backhand or forehand depending on the trajectory of the ball. Having tinkered with it in the nets, the big question was whether he would put it into practice at the SCG against his former team. The short answer is no.

Warner's stay lasted two balls. After playing and missing at his first from Chris Tremain, he duly snicked the unknown seamer's second to the keeper. Game, set and match.

The shot was reminiscent of the airy fist innings swipe he played at Dale Steyn in the Adelaide Test. The context this time around was greatly different, even if the result was not.

There will not be another chance to see Warner, or his mystery shot, for the remainder of Big Bash League II. His switch from the Thunder to crosstown rivals the Sixers was the only talking point in the lead-up. A bad offer and bad blood, while denied, were believed to be behind the reasons he went to the trouble of swapping jerseys for the one match he was available. A crowd of 15,279 had come to see a man who can dispatch bad balls and good ones alike to all corners.

However, Warner's sum contribution to the match was a duck and a dropped catch. Rumour has it that it didn't come cheap, with the powerful left-hander commanding $30,000 for each of the balls he faced.

Unlike their opponents, the Sixers do not rely heavily on their big-name opener. The fall of Warner's wicket brought Brad Haddin to the crease. The former Australian keeper duly sliced his opening delivery over point for six. The stroke set the tone for what could have been a tricky target of 144. That figure, compiled in the absence of Chris Gayle, would have been significantly lower if not for an unbeaten 55-run partnership from Ryan Carters and Sean Abbott from just 28 balls to close the innings. Sixers quicks Luke Feldman and Mitchell Starc did most of the early damage, taking two wickets apiece. The latter, who will battle with Ben Hilfenhaus for the right to face Sri Lanka in Hobart, did not do his prospects any harm. The left-armer moved the ball at good pace and finished with 2-27.

Haddin wasn't surprised to hear that Starc was almost nudging the 150km/h barrier. ''I actually think he's been bowling with the handbrake off for quite a while,'' he said. ''It's no different to what he's been bowling at the Champions League and how I've been keeping to him. He definitely pushes that radar gun right up.''

Haddin finished with a majestic 59 from 48, losing his stumps when only one run was needed. Nic Maddison (39 from 30 balls) and Steve Smith (41 not out from 32) batted with composure, the target achieved with eight balls to spare.