Throwback to when the Sydney Sixers became the second Australian team to clinch the Champions League Twenty20 title. After the successful launch of the Indian Premier League in 2008, there was a need to give fans even more action. Cricket boards across the world decided to go the football way and have the best teams across each league take part in a new league. This is how the Champions League T20 (CLT20) came into being.
The first edition was supposed to be held in 2008 but the Mumbai terror attacks that year saw the tournament being canceled. Once the tournament began in 2009, New South Wales beat Trinidad and Tobago in the finals to be crowned the first champions. It was during this edition the likes of Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine were discovered.
Chennai Super Kings (2010 and 2014) and Mumbai Indians (2011 and 2013) are the only teams to win the tournament twice. In 2012, Sydney Sixers became the second Australian side to win the title after they demolished South African side Lions in the final by 10 wickets.
Sydney Sixers show their dominance to win 2012 Champions League title
Brad Haddin and his Sydney Sixers side were in Group B along with Highveld Lions, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Yorkshire. Sydney began their tournament by beating Chennai by 14 runs.
This was followed by the win over Yorkshire where the Sixers won by 8 wickets while chasing 97 to win. The Australian side then beat home team highveld Lions by 5 wickets before beating Mumbai Indians by 12 runs in the final league match.
In the semi-finals Sydney faced Titans as the Sixers won by 2 wickets in a last ball classic. The team had some of the current Australian players like Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, current skipper Pat Cummins, and pacer Josh Hazlewood.
Lions batted first and could score on 121 on the board before being bowled out in the last ball. Nathan McCullum dismissed Gulam Bodi for 6 while Alviro Petersen fell to Steve O Keefe for 1. Josh Hazlewood then removed Quinton De Kock for 1 run and Neil McKenzie for a duck to leave the home team at 9/4.
Pakistan star Sohail Tanvir scored 11 before becoming the 2nd wicket for McCullum. Jean Symes was the best batter for Lions with 51 off 46 balls with 8 fours. Sydney bowlers kept the lid on scoring to bowl out the Lions for 121.
Brad Haddin and Michael Lumb made sure that the visitors didn’t lose a wicket in pursuit of the small score. The win came with ten wickets in hand and 45 balls left to play. England batter Lumb was not out on 82 off 42 balls with 8 fours and 5 sixes. Skipper Haddin was not out on 37 off 33 with four boundaries and a six as the sixers lifted the trophy.
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