A sublime super over from Mickey Edwards helped the Illawarra Invitational XI to a dramatic victory against the Sydney Sixers at North Dalton Park on Tuesday.

Defending just eight runs, Edwards took two wickets, including the valuable scalp of South Coast star Nic Maddinson, to guide Illawarra to a famous win.

The hosts had been set 7-124 by the Sixers and levelled the scores on the final delivery to send the match into Twenty20's version of extra time.

Balgownie opener David Murphy returned to the crease for Illawarra after starring with the bat and with the help of Matt Day, the Sixers were set nine to win.

It proved enough as Edwards bowled a stellar super over to restrict the Big Bash team to just five.

Sixers coach Trevor Bayliss said his side would improve from the performance.

"Sometimes it is a bit difficult to get up for practice games but we could have put on a little bit better display for the fans, especially from a batting point of view," he said.

"We lost three early wickets and it made it a bit difficult to come back from that.

"There were some good players in the other team but it is always good to get together and play before the first game. I am sure they will come out in the first game and be ready to go."

The Sixers started patiently with Maddinson and Michael Lumb at the crease but it quickly changed when Simon Keen (2-24) was brought on in the fifth over.

The medium-pacer immediately made an impact with a pair of vital breakthroughs, sending both openers packing in a tight spell for the Illawarra squad.

Warilla junior Maddinson (12 off 14 balls) was the first to depart after a sharp piece of keeping from Jay Lenton saw the South Coast junior stumped.

Lumb was bowled shortly after for nine.

Moises Henriques came and went for three, before Jordan Silk and Ed Cowan began to build the Sixers a respectable total.

They helped the Sixers tick the scoreboard past 50 at the halfway mark before Cowan departed for 19 when he tried to reverse sweep Will Somerville (1-22 from four overs).

Sean Abbott made a flashy nine and when Silk was finally dismissed on 31 the Sixers were 5-102 in the 18th over.

Ryan Carters' quickfire 28 off 18 balls guided the Big Bash side to a respectable 7-124. Early on, Illawarra showed no signs of stage fright as Murphy belted an impressive 42.

They were 3-77 when he was dismissed off the bowling of Luke Doran.

It set up an absorbing final five overs where Illawarra needed a touch more than six an over to spring a surprise.

Simon Keen and Adam Crosthwaite slowly edged closer to the total but were pinned down by tight bowling from Abbott, Brett Lee and Doug Bollinger.

They required another 16 runs when Keen was dismissed by Lee for 24 off 19 in the 19th over.

Bollinger stepped in to bowl the final over with Illawarra 4-113.

An early boundary from Matt Day put the hosts in a strong position, and despite Crosthwaite being run out for 21, Illawarra levelled the scores on the final delivery.

It set up the thrilling super over which resulted in Illawarra snaring an upset win.