Hampshire skipper James Vince top scores in opening Big Bash League game of 2020/21

James Vince in action for the Sydney Sixers. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

The England international struck 67 off 41 balls - with eight fours and two sixes - but defending champions Sydney Sixers lost by 16 runs to the Hobart Hurricanes.

After losing both openers for a duck, Hobart recovered to post 178-8 with Tim David (58) and Colin Ingram (55) top scoring.

Dan Christian - who helped Hampshire win their first T20 Blast title in 2010 - was Sydney’s best bowler with 3-36.

Christian is aiming to win the Big Bash League for the fourth time, after previous wins with the Renegades (2018/19), Brisbane Heat (2012/13) and South Australian (2010/11).

He has also won three English T20 titles - following up his Hampshire success by helping Nottinghamshire triumph in 2017 and again two months ago (where he was man of the match in both the semi-final and final).

In all, the 37-year-old all-rounder has won eight T20 titles - he has also been successful in South Africa and the Caribbean.

Vince was in early when the Sixers replied, after opener Josh Philippe had lasted just four balls.

Vince and Jack Edwards (47) added 116 for the second wicket in exactly 13 overs, and Sydney were looking on course for victory.

But the innings lost momentum after Vince was trapped leg before by James Faulkner, with the Sixers finishing on 162-6.