Nic Maddinson cuts for six during the Big Bash clash at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Source: News Corp Australia

In front of 12,789 fans for the Sixers’ first Big Bash League game of the season, the home side lost just two wickets as they chased down the Renegades’ target of 155 with eight balls to spare.

Openers Maddinson and Michael Lumb (28 off 25 balls) got off to a flyer and after five overs the Sixers were 0-47. Maddinson, who was wearing a black armband for his first game back at the SCG following the death of his close friend Phillip Hughes, was particularly explosive up front.

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Sean Abbott continued his impressive form with the ball. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Source: News Corp Australia

He smashed Andre Russell for consecutive sixes and pulled off a magnificent reverse sweep for six off Fawad Ahmed’s first ball. It was entirely appropriate that Maddinson brought up his half-century off 38 balls with a brilliant six off Dwayne Bravo.

That inspired Moises Henriques to get in on the action and the Sixers captain hit Peter Siddle for consecutive boundaries. That was the moment both Maddinson and Henriques, who had been pegged down until that point, began to hit freely and got the equation down to a run a ball with nine wickets in hand.

Henriques just couldn’t see it through, dismissed for 36 with his team needing just one run to win. It left Ed Cowan to hit the winning single.

Earlier, Abbott continued his good form by picking up two key wickets, but he was excellently supported by Brett Lee at the end of the innings, as well as debutant Ben Dwarshuis.

A week after Abbott bowled NSW to victory in their Sheffield Shield match against Queensland, the young quick was at it again for the Sixers, ending his four-over spell with super figures of 2-20.

Matthew Wade smashed a six off the first ball bowled by Ben Dwarshuis. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Source: News Corp Australia

His first ball was smashed for six, but Abbott came back to pick up the wickets of danger men Aaron Finch (20 off 18 balls) and Dwayne Bravo (22 off 16 balls).

He wasn’t the only Sixers bowler whose first ball cleared the ropes, after Matthew Wade hooked Dwarshuis for the maximum. But the rookie 20-year-old had the final say when he had Wade caught brilliantly by Moises Henriques for 35 that same over.

Wade and Finch started well and after five overs the Renegades had raced to 1-53. But, aside from Callum Ferguson, who played well for his 40 before Dwarshuis had him caught by Doug Bollinger, the visitors just couldn’t find any rhythm. Their innings spluttered along without anyone really taking the game to the Sixers bowlers.

A lot of that came down to veteran speedster Lee, who was magnificent at the back end of the innings. He conceded just four runs in the final over and picked up the wicket of Nathan Rimmington with the last ball. Earlier, Lee dismissed Ben Rohrer (9 off 14 balls) when he sliced one to Michael Lumb and ended with figures of 2-21.

The Renegades ended on 7-154, but it was never going to be enough.