Sydney Sixers defeat Melbourne Stars in BBL final

Josh Philippe has piloted the Sydney Sixers to their second BBL title, heaping more misery on the Melbourne Stars some eight years after watching idol-turned-mentor Steve Smith win the inaugural crown.

Philippe's polished 52 lifted Sydney to 5-116 from 12 overs in Saturday night's rain-affected final at the SCG, where wet weather was expected to ruin the season decider but stripped only eight overs from each innings.

The young gun, who sat in the WACA stands aged 14 when Smith skippered the Sixers to a formative victory, outperformed all-comers in a pressure-laden innings which oozed composure.

The target looked tricky but became monumentally challenging when Melbourne lost their two best batsmen in the opening three overs, crashing to 3-18 en route to a 19-run defeat.

Marcus Stoinis picked out Sean Abbott in the deep after a bright start to the first over, delivered by Nathan Lyon, while Steve O'Keefe trapped Glenn Maxwell lbw.

Maxwell's dismissal proved to be the point of no return and the visitors finished on 6-97 to enhance their reputation of excelling in the regular season and folding in finals.

The Stars have a 3-9 record in post-season BBL games.

Maxwell's team feared they would watch the men in magenta celebrate without a ball being bowled, but ground staff worked tirelessly and the abridged contest started only 70 minutes late.

The small crowd of 10,121 were treated to a special knock from Philippe which featured four fours and three sixes.

It is the latest piece of evidence from the 22-year-old as to why so many believe he is destined for higher honours.

"He's definitely someone who has been talked about at different times, just because of the raw talent," national Twenty20 captain Aaron Finch said on Fox Cricket.

"You can see him being a long-term player for Australia down the track."

Philippe, who only decided to leave Perth and join the Sixers after receiving a call from Smith in 2018, shared a 34-run stand with his mentor and lookalike.

Maxwell opted to bowl and ended an entertaining knock of 21 from Smith, but couldn't produce any fireworks with the bat.

Smith produced arguably the shot of the night, heaving a full delivery from Haris Rauf over the leg-side rope and deep into the crowd, before holing out to Peter Handscomb in the deep.

The former Test skipper's dismissal ignited a collapse of 3-19 before Philippe regained momentum and brought up his half-century in the final over with a six off Adam Zampa.

The Sixers can start celebrating now as the match looks all but over.

With 18 balls remaining, the Stars are 6-60 needing 57 runs to win.

To pull off a miraculous victory, the Stars would need a little more than 3 a ball.

The Stars are in big trouble now as Peter Handscomb is run out.

Clearly some miscommunication after the pair crossed for a single.

Handscomb wanted two, but Larkin remained at his crease as the Sixers claimed an easy wicket.

"That is terrible, that is awful from the stars," Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket.

The Melbourne Stars are now 4-26 and need 91 runs to win from 7.4 overs

Nic Maddinson goes for a duck.

A brilliant delivery from Josh Hazlewood and Maddinson slots it straight into the hands of James Vince.

Maddinson leaves the crease with 0 from four deliveries.

Nathan Lyon dismisses Marcus Stoinis after just three balls.

Stoinis notched two boundaries from his first two deliveries, but it wasn't to be for a third time.

Stoinis went for the boundary on the third delivery, only to come up just short of the boundary line and into the hands of Sean Abbott.

Stars are 1-10 after 0.3.

The Sydney Sixers have finished up their 12 over innings.

Going at a tick under 10 an over, the Sixers ended with 5-116.

Josh Philippe led the way for the Sixers, notching 52 runs from 29 deliveries.

For the stars, they will require a 9.75 run rate over the 12 overs.

Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis will open the batting and get their chase underway.

After eight overs, the Sixers are 4-73.

Despite Daniel Hughes and Moises Henriques having short stints at the crease, the Sixers look set to get well over 100 runs.

Josh Philippe on fire with 34 from 17 deliveries.

Four overs remaining.

Glenn Maxwell claims the big wicket of Steve Smith.

Smith went all the for way for six, but fell just short.

He finishes with 21 from 12 deliveries.

Three overs gone and that's the end of the power play.

Despite a slow first over, the Sixers are 1-26, courtesy of Josh Philippe who notched 16 from 6 deliveries.

Haris Rauf will bowl the next over.

After 2.1 overs, the Sixers are 1-15 as James Vince walks.

Daniel Worrall dismisses the Englishman who could only manage just two runs from nine deliveries.

Steve Smith comes to the crease now.