Sydney Sixers captain Steve Smith was delighted by the efforts of his bowlers in helping the side book their place in the inaugural KFC Big Bash League grand final.
The Sixers set up a showdown with the Perth Scorchers at the WACA on Saturday by posting a seven-run win over the Hobart Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena on Sunday night.
After putting on 6-153 from their 20 overs – led by a sizzling 68 from number three Nic Maddinson – the Sixers then restricted Hobart to 7-146, with Smith and old stager Brett Lee taking two wickets apiece.
Smith said he feared 153 would not be enough, and was pleased with the efforts of his men in the field.
"We batted pretty well at the start there, young Nic Maddinson was phenomenal tonight," Smith said.
"Everything he did sort of came off, and (he) played some pretty unbelievable shots. I thought 150 was a little bit short, I reckon we needed 15, 20 more."
"But the bowlers did the job, and we fielded well as well. We just got it done tonight."
Smith said the key dismissals of Owais Shah (0) and Travis Birt (11) had been crucial to the outcome of the match.
"They're obviously two pretty phenomenal players and they've had unbelievable tournaments, so getting them out really helped us getting into the middle order," he said.
Smith paid tribute to veterans Lee, who bowled out the match with blood streaming from his nose after an accidental mid-pitch collision with Phil Jacques, and Stuart MacGill, who claimed the wicket of the dangerous Birt.
"He seems to be angry any time he does anything on the field," Smith joked when discussing combative leg-spinner MacGill.
"He obviously bowled pretty well tonight, got the big wicket of Birt."
"Binger (Lee) bowled well tonight as well, he was obviously a little bit injured there at the end as well with his nose bleeding, (there was) claret everywhere. It was good determination by him to come out and keep on bowling after he copped a hit."
Smith said he was looking forward to taking on the Scorchers in next weekend's final with the momentum of a four-match winning streak behind them, but added the team could not read too much into their one-run win over Perth at the SCG on Wednesday.
"We've won the last couple of games. We beat them last game, but it's obviously a different ball game at the WACA," Smith said.
"They play there pretty well, and it's going to be a big challenge for us going over there."
And the Sixers skipper said he would love to have Shane Watson back in selection calculations for the final, with the big-hitting opener missing two months of cricket with hamstring and calf problems.
"It'd be nice to have him back, obviously that depends on how his injury is going and how his body is going and all that sort of stuff," he said.
