Super Silk steals the show in Sydney

Jordan Silk has produced an incredible performance, with a superhuman diving catch in the first innings followed by an incredible batting display to steer the Sydney Sixers to a heart-stopping victory over the Sydney Thunder in front of a record crowd at the SCG.

Brett Lee was given a standing ovation and guard of honour off the Sydney Cricket Ground in his last professional game on the ground but the night belonged to young gun Silk.

Silk finished unbeaten on 69 from 43 balls – including an incredible 43 off his final 13 balls – as the Sixers chased down the Thunder's total of 4-154 with a boundary off the final ball of the match.

Highlights of Silk's amazing innings

Needing 23 to win off the last over, Silk hit a two and two sixes before a single brought Stephen O'Keefe on strike to face Josh Lalor.

Needing eight runs off two balls to win, O'Keefe got a thick edge over short third man to the fence off the fifth ball of the over before swatting the final ball to the boundary at deep backward square leg to the elation of the magenta-wearing half of a NSW domestic cricket record crowd of 36,487.

Silk had earlier taken one of the catches of the season in the Thunder's innings.

Is this the best catch of the BBL|04 season?

Sprinting in from deep mid-wicket as a skied pull shot from Chris Green looped in the air, Silk dove full length and grabbed ball in his right hand just millimetres above the ground.

Making the catch even more impressive was the presence of Sixers spinner Stephen O'Keefe, who was sprinting back from the in-field towards Silk as he dived forward to take the catch.

Jordan Silk talks us through his amazing catch

Silk made a name for himself with a stunning one-handed catch against Brisbane Heat last season, but his effort tonight was rated an even better catch by National Selector and Channel 10 commentator Mark Waugh.

Co-commentator Ricky Ponting, who has long rated Silk one of the best fielders in Australia, disagreed with Waugh and said his effort at the Gabba was a superior catch.

Silk's stunning effort in BBL|03

Earlier, Proteas legend Jacques Kallis (56 from 43 balls) and countryman Cameron Delport (30 from 29) put on an opening stand of 74 for the Thunder after the Sixers won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Kallis hit five fours and two sixes in his innings before he appeared to be hampered by a lower back injury.

Kallis later confirmed he had woken up with a stiff back which was exacerbated during his batting effort.

He was eventually caught by Doug Bollinger off the bowling of Nathan Lyon, one of three wickets for the Test off-spinner (3-19).

Kallis blasted 56 in a dominant display

Aiden Blizzard was once again one of the Thunder's best with the bat, finishing unbeaten on 51 from 36 balls with five boundaries.

Fast-bowling great Brett Lee, playing his final match at his beloved Sydney Cricket Ground, finished with 0-38 from his four overs.

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Lee takes the SCG field for the last time // Getty Images

The win continued the Sixers' stranglehold over the Thunder, who are yet to win a Sydney derby from seven attempts.

Tonight's result finalises the semi-final schedule for BBL|04; the Sixers will take on the Adelaide Strikers at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday night before the Perth Scorchers host the Melbourne Stars at the WACA Ground on Sunday.

Saturday's match in Adelaide will start at 6.40pm local time (7.10pm AEDT) while the match in Perth on Sunday will start at 4.10pm local time (7.10pm AEDT).

The winner of each semi-final will go through to the Big Final next Wednesday at Manuka Oval in Canberra and will secure Champions League Twenty20 qualification.

Sydney Sixers XI: Nic Maddinson (c), Michael Lumb, Riki Wessels, Jordan Silk, Ed Cowan, Ryan Carters, Sean Abbott, Stephen O’Keefe, Nathan Lyon, Brett Lee, Doug Bollinger. (Simon Keen 12th)

Sydney Thunder XI: Mike Hussey (c), Jacques Kallis, Cameron Delport, Aiden Blizzard, Daniel Hughes, Ahillen Beadle, Jake Doran, Nathan Hauritz, Josh Lalor. Chris Green, Chris Tremain. (Tim Ley 12th)

KFC T20 BBL Finals Fixture:

Sat 24 Jan, Semi-final #1 – Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Oval, 6.40pm local time

Sun 25 Jan, Semi-final #2 – Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars, WACA, 4.10pm local time

Wed 28 Jan, Final – Semi-final winner #1 v Semi-final winner #2, Manuka Oval, Canberra, 7.40pm

WT20 Final – Lend Lease Breakers v Commonwealth Bank VicSpirit, Manuka Oval, Canberra, 2.05pm (as a double-header with the BBL final)