Everyone’s favourite Big Bash security guard is back

DO YOU remember this legend? The Big Bash security guard who lit up the internet earlier this summer was up to his old tricks.

A SECURITY guard who lit up the internet earlier this summer was up to his old tricks as the Adelaide Strikers beat the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League (BBL) on Saturday night.

Vikas Chhikara impressed the Adelaide Oval crowd before Christmas when he barely raised a sweat taking a catch off the bat of former Test opener Joe Burns who, playing for the Brisbane Heat, hooked fast bowler Kane Richardson over the boundary for six.

Keeping an eye on the crowd while sitting on his chair, Chhikara didn’t have to move as the ball hit him straight on the chest. He showed clean hands to take an easy catch, but the most surprising thing about the play was how nonchalant he was when he swallowed the pill.

He just casually lobbed the ball back in the field of play, his facial expression barely changed at all and he just gave a brief thumbs up to the crowd.

Chhikara can thank his new-found internet stardom for giving him the chance to shine on the big stage yet again in Saturday’s clash in the city of churches between the home side and the visiting Sydney franchise.

In the innings break he took part in a catching competition and showed off those safe hands of his once again. This time, his effort was even more impressive as he took an overhead grab before tumbling to the turf.

CHECK OUT HIS EFFORT IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

What a grab.

“Look at the big man. He goes back with it, takes it and hits the deck. The head hits the ground, the bum’s in the air and 50,000 Adelaideans are right on board this man,” Channel 10 commentator Mark Howard said.

“We heard the roar when we were down there, that was obviously it,” added Damien Fleming.

“That is gold,” chimed Adam Gilchrist.

The Strikers broke their winless streak and finished 2016 with a bang after thumping the Sixers by 48 runs.

With openers Jason Roy and Daniel Hughes starting promisingly, the visitors looked in control in their pursuit of the Strikers’ 9-152 before a collapse left the Sixers’ reply in tatters, eventually being skittled for 104. The Sixers lost five wickets in as many overs to leave the home crowd of 45,471 celebrating into the night.

Only Englishman Sam Billings offered any resistance, scoring 40 as Billy Stanlake mopped up the tail and recalled paceman Ben Laughlin was miserly in the middle.

Travis Head had axed Test batsman Nic Maddinson caught by Jake Weatherald at backward point, Stanlake’s bouncer forced Brad Haddin to step on his stumps and Sydney skipper Moises Henriques hammered a long hop from leg-spinner Liam O’Connor straight to Kieron Pollard on the rope.

The Strikers finished off 2016 in the best possible fashion.

At 7-64, the Sixers needed the type of miracle Head conjured a year ago in the corresponding match and Billings briefly looked the man to do it. But when he rifled a return catch to countryman Chris Jordan, Sydney was done.

Earlier, Sean Abbott’s career-best haul of 5-16 — the second-best bowling figures in BBL history — sparked a Strikers collapse after Henriques won the toss and sent the home side in.

Abbott was the chief destroyer for Sydney as the Sixers restricted the Strikers to what appeared a below-par 9-152.

The home side was flying at almost 10 an over before Abbott was introduced in the 10th over and removed Ben Dunk, Brad Hodge and Head in quick succession. Kieron Pollard recaptured some of his old form and gave the scorecard some respectability with a quickfire 29, including two massive sixes. Miserly Laughlin was pleased with his bowling performance, which anchored Adelaide’s defence of its total.

“After the start we got when we were going 10s (run-rate) after the first 10 (overs) we thought we were going (for) about 180,” Laughlin said. “We felt 15 under par but we bowled pretty well to restrict them. It was a good night at the office.

“I mixed it up and it suited my slower ball a bit more, this wicket, which was good and bowling to the big leg side boundary.”

Abbott credited the Strikers’ attack for their ability to combine together and “hunt” the visitors down.

“After the powerplay it looked like we were going to be chasing a fair bit more,” he said.

“At the break we were pretty confident, (but) credit to the Strikers. They bowled and hunted well as a unit.”

— with AAP