O'Keefe takes positives from loss

Far from kicking stones, Sydney Sixers tweaker Steve O'Keefe reckons his side should take plenty of positives from their final-over KFC Big Bash League loss to the Hobart Hurricanes.

The Sixers went down to the ladder-leading - and still undefeated - Hurricanes on Friday night at Bellerive Oval by five-wickets.

After being set 162 to win, the Hurricanes chased it down with a ball to spare, set up by a D'Arcy Short half-century.

"In all aspects we could have done a little bit better. If we're being honest we were 10-15 short with the bat," O'Keefe, the tournament's leading wicket-taker, said.

"But in saying that we pushed the team at the top of the ladder right until the very end - the last over - and we haven't played our best cricket."

Daniel Hughes top scored for the Sixers with 61 from 40 balls in their total of 8-161, while captain Moises Henriques looked in good touch before being run out on 31 by a piece of brilliance from Short.

England paceman Tom Curran (1-22) continued his good form and went at less than a run a ball, while Sean Abbott produced a pinpoint leg-stump yorker to get rid of Short.

"We've got a lot of positives. Compared to 12 months ago we wouldn't have even got close (to Hobart)," O'Keefe said.

"The guys are showing a lot of resilience and a lot of fight."

The Sixers had a horror start to last season's BBL, losing their first six before storming home with four straight, narrowly missing the finals.

This year they're three-from-three after six matches - a decent platform in a lengthened tournament.

"I think we're growing into this tournament and the guys are getting better," O'Keefe said.

"Our goal is to finish in that top four and give ourselves a shot. At the moment we're three-and-three. If you'd said that at the start, we'd probably take it."

The Sixers next game at BBL|08 is against the Strikers in Adelaide on Sunday night and they have made one change to their 13-player squad.

Young spinner Lloyd Pope has won a recall, with paceman Greg West making way.

Sydney Sixers squad: Sean Abbott, Justin Avendano, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Dan Hughes, Ben Manenti, Steve O'Keefe, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope, Jordan Silk