Perth’s batting can be a mixed bag but if either Klinger or Shaun Marsh can get going there is no reason they can’t post a big score. They seem like a well drilled side for which coach Justin Langer can take due credit. Tye, Behrendorff and Coulter-Nile all pitched in with inspirational spells, backed up with superb ground fielding. The Scorchers bowlers responded in sterling fashion. With a comical final maiden over, Perth were restricted to a slightly below-par score of 144. Perth’s famed strategy of being able to defend any total was given a stern test in the semi-final against the Melbourne Stars. Although technically a neutral venue, expect to see plenty of magenta in the audience. Had previous years’ conditions applied then Perth would have hosted their fourth consecutive final with the 12th man advantage of the vocal ‘Furnace’ crowd.
It was an interesting choice to play the final at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.
With one title apiece, the winner has genuine claim to be the greatest ever BBL club, since no team has won the competiton twice. The fourth edition of the Big Final pits together two of the most successful franchises – the Perth Scorchers and the Sydney Sixers. The Big Bash League juggernaut rolls into the nation’s capital for the tournament decider this evening. Join me on The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:40pm (AEDT).
The Perth Scorchers and the Sydney Sixers are all set to contest the final of the 2014/15 Big Bash League in Canberra tonight. Actually a big difference was the illegal field placing bungle by the Sixers – they had only three inside the circle and the resulting no ball and wide meant the first ball of Lee’s second last over went for 10 runs. The difference between the two teams was Shaun Marsh with a man of the match innings of 73.
The Scorchers bowlers again performed with distinction – Behrendorff the pick with 1/19 off 4 overs but Hogg with 1/25 (4) also strangled the Sixers batting. The Scorchers and Sixers, who are three-time champions, are the only two clubs to have clinched multiple titles in Australia’s T20 competition.Full marks to Moises Henriques and Carters for turning the Sixers batting around and some incredible death bowling by Nathan Lyon and Brett Lee. He was on a hat-trick at one point after dismissing Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis, only for Lyon to fend off his third ball. Perth have been kings of defending low totals this season and the omens didn’t bode well for Sydney when they lost Hayden Kerr cheaply in the second over.ĭaniel Hughes hit a quickfire 42 before being run out to give them a glimmer of hope, but it was always an uphill battle with Nicholas Bertus (15) and Jay Lenton (10) the only other players to make double figures.Īndrew Tye did the damage with 3-15 off three overs. Henriques won the toss and opted to bowl and it looked to be a good decision when the Scorchers slumped to 25 for 4 after six overs.īut an incredible 104-run partnership by skipper Ashton Turner (54) and Evans flipped the match in their favour.Įvans smacked four boundaries and four sixes in his explosive knock with Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe both taking two wickets each. “Congratulations to Perth, the best team all year and probably fitting you won tonight,” said Sixers skipper Moises Henriques. The Scorchers nominated the venue as their “home” ground as they are unable to return to Western Australia, with the state border still shut to the rest of the country due to Covid concerns.