Adelaide have guaranteed themselves a home semi-final after toppling the Sydney Sixers in their Big Bash League clash at the SCG on Wednesday night.

The Strikers’ 182-run haul proved too much for their rivals, who were pre-match favourites with Test star Nathan Lyon returning after nearly a year out of the league.

Lyon, snubbed by World Cup selectors despite his stunning form in Australia’s 2-0 series win over India, took a single wicket in his three-over spell.

The off-spinner gave away 21 runs before claiming his first victim – bowling Travis Head (9) on the first ball of his last over.

Openers Craig Simmons (46 off 34 balls) and Tim Ludeman (31 from 15) took advantage of the dry outfield with a dozen boundaries between them.

Ludeman was the first to go, sent packing on the back of a massive six into the 21,644-strong crowd.

Skipper Johan Botha played his part with an impressive 41 (not out) off 19 balls.

Their 6-182 total looked a near impossible target for the Sixers – and so it proved.

Despite a match-high 67-run knock from Jordan Silk off 34 balls, the home side fell 23 runs short – all out for 158 with three balls to spare.

Sydney’s opening pair – Michael Lumb (17) and Nic Maddinson (18) – managed less than half of the combined haul of their opposite starters.

Both were dismissed in the space of seven runs, Kane Richardson and Ben Laughlin claiming the top scalps.

The Sixers went on to lose four more wickets for just 37 runs, prompting an exodus of Sydney fans from the stands.

Adelaide’s veteran fast-bowler Shaun Tait, Botha and Richardson collected two wickets each.

Even with one game up their sleeves – against the Melbourne Renegades at Etihad Stadium next Monday – the Strikers’ victory cements them in the top two for a semi-final at Adelaide Oval later this month.

But there are no such guarantees for the Sixers, who will need points from their last regular-season clash with cross-town rivals the Thunder at the SCG next Thursday for a crack at the playoffs.