Philippe and Vince humble the Hurricanes

James Vince and Josh Philippe blasted half-centuries as Sydney Sixers cantered home by nine wickets to hand Hobart Hurricanes just a second defeat of the Big Bash League season.

The Hurricanes came into Wednesday's meeting at the SCG knowing a ninth win from 10 games would all-but assure them a home semi-final.

And they would have fancied their chances as Matthew Wade (64), Ben McDermott (41) and D'Arcy Short (32) paved the way for a useful 172-4, boosted by George Bailey's nine-ball 22 at the end.

But even Short and Wade, the tournament's top two run-scorers, were overshadowed by Vince and Philippe, who put on 167 for the second wicket with some devastating hitting to lift the Sixers to second in the table and looking good for a play-off berth with six wins from 11 matches.

What a win for the @SixersBBL. All on the back of a 167-run partnership between Josh Philippe & James Vince (YES, 167!!) #BBL08 pic.twitter.com/m91FZKURxK

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 23, 2019

WADE MAKING WAVES ONCE MORE

Alongside opening partner Short, Wade had enjoyed an unbroken 158-run stand in a 10-wicket success over Adelaide Strikers last time out.

Wade crashed 84 from only 49 balls on that occasion and although he was not quite as explosive here, the wicketkeeper still thumped four fours and two sixes in his 51-ball knock.

He and Short, who hit four fours and one maximum during his 26-ball stay, put on 67 for the opening partnership and set the platform for McDermott and Bailey.

The former got himself going with successive sixes off Lloyd Pope, before perishing from the penultimate ball of the innings courtesy of a stunning diving catch from Sean Abbott running around from long-on.

VINCE GOES BACK-TO-BACK

The England international had found form with 75 against Brisbane Heat on Sunday, and he followed that up with 74 not out from 50 balls here.

He took his time to begin with, scoring only six from his first six - thanks largely to an edged four off Clive Rose - but soon found his rhythm, to the dismay of Riley Meredith.

The 13th over saw Vince go to fifty with a six off his legs, before crashing two more boundaries to that side as Meredith leaked 18 from his set of six.

Back-to-back half-centuries for James Vince! He is on absolute fire! #smashemsixers #BBL08 pic.twitter.com/05DALU7aAW

— Sydney Sixers (@SixersBBL) January 23, 2019

PHILIPPE FINDS HIS FEET

After a previous high score of 30 in this year's tournament, it's fair to say Philippe was due a score and he certainly delivered.

His 86 from only 49 deliveries featured nine fours while he cleared the ropes on three occasions, including taking Rose for three boundaries in succession in a fourth over that yielded 19 runs.

That sequence kicked off a run of nine fours in just 13 balls from the Sixers batsmen, who cruised to their target with 17 deliveries to spare.