Perth Scorchers torch Sydney Sixers to reach ninth BBL final

Daily Update, Sports

‘But can you do it on a loud, boisterous evening in Perth?‘ might just become one of those famous BBL adversaries, if it isn’t already.

The Perth Scorchers, five-time champions of the Big Bash League, demonstrated once more why their fortress is rarely conquered, why opponents arrive with so much hope and leave with only the memory of what might have been. This was another of those famous bowling performances, the sort that is already stitched into the league’s folklore, as they skipped past the Sydney Sixers and into yet another final – their ninth, if you’re counting, and the sixth to be hosted in this famous Western Australian city.

Perth Scorchers

That the Scorchers were asked to bat first and were restricted to only 147 should have been an indication of Sixers’ advantage in the modern T20 era. Instead, they made it look at least 50 runs more, perhaps more still, as Mahali Beardman, David Payne and Cooper Connolly took seven wickets amongst them. Even Steve Smith’s fighting 37 off 24, an innings apparently pushing against the inevitable, wasn’t enough to get the Sixers close. They were bowled out for 99, unable to keep up with the pace and bounce and the occasional inconsistent nature of it.

For the Sixers, defeat means flying back to the far east to play the Challenger, to earn the right to return to Perth and challenge the Scorchers’ hegemony. Their chastening night was summarized up perfectly, almost cruelly, by Sean Abbott’s run-out right at the end: his bat stuck in the turf outside the crease while completing an easy run, his body tumbling over the crease in slow motion, while Josh Inglis had whipped off the bails with Abbott still in the air.

It ended an evening that had promised so much more, but delivered only what Perth mostly delivers, a victory for the Scorchers. The Sixers had walked off at the mid-point of this game very pleased with their efforts following Moises Henriques’s win at the toss. Finn Allen continued his good form at the top of the order for the Scorchers, even violating the record for the most sixes in a single BBL season by hitting a 37th maximum.

But his wicket was key. After he fell for a 30-ball 49 there was a collapse as the Scorchers slipped from 67/1 to 87/5. Ashton Turner added a crucial 29 but wickets kept falling around him. Due to the wickets falling, the Surge was delayed until the very end and even that didn’t produce many. There was, however, a vital contribution from Jhye Richardson right at the end which took them close to 150. Ben Dwarshius was outstanding with his 2 for 23 and was well supported by Jack Edwards and Ashes hero Mitchell Starc, who also claimed a brace.

But the Sydney Sixers c ouldn’t ride that momentum into the second innings. Two balls in, they lost Babar Azam for a duck after he dragged his foot in the air while trying to defend Cooper Connolly and was stumped. Josh Philippe started with a couple of fours off David Payne but was undone by the pace and bounced in the wicket when his attempts to pull Beardman off his first ball only resulted in a top edge. The impressive seamer also sent back Henriques, who also attempted to pull in front of square and only succeeded in ballooning a catch.

Smith, true to his style ,fought back.

He also pulled but was clever enough to do so by getting inside the line of the ball and hitting it behind square. A four and a six off Brody Couch threatened to turn the tide but once again the Perth Scorchers, bowlers hit back. Payne was hit for a six by Lachlan Shaw but fell the following over, chipping an off-pace delivery straight to mid-off. Sixers shot themselves in the foot in the next over when Jack Edwards gave up his stumps trying to cut Connolly and heard the sound of timber, even as Smith at the other end shook his head in disappointment.

Beardman returned in the 11th over and effectively closed out the match when he had Smith caught at long leg, getting more altitude than distance on a pull shot. And by the 15th over of the chase, Scorchers found themselves in yet another BBL final.

Brief scores: Perth Scorchers 147/9 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 49; Ben Dwarshius 2-23, Jack Edwards 2-25) beat Sydney Sixers 99 in 15 overs (Steve Smith 37; Mohli Beardman 3-20, David Payne 2-13, Cooper Connolly 2-10) by 48 runs.

Perth Scorchers 147 for 9(Allen 49) beat Sydney Sixers 99(Smith 37, Beardman 3-20) by 48 runs

Ahead of a potential international debut, quick Mahli Beardman dismissed a rampant Steven Smith in a hostile bowling performance as Perth Scorchers defended brilliantly against rival Sydney Sixers to lock in a home final.

Chasing 148, after Finn Allen blasted 49 off 30 balls, Smith sped to 37 off 24 balls in the Qualifier but he played a lone hand on another seam-friendly Optus Stadium surface. Beardman was the standout of a disciplined Scorchers attack in what turned out to be a convincing victory with Sydney Sixers bowled out after 15 overs.

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Sydney Sixers do have a second chance and on Friday will host the winner of the Knockout final between Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars.

It was the 10th final in an engulfing rivalry between powerhouse teams combining for eight titles.

Beardman turns match on its head

There was some surprise when Beardman was selected in Australia’s squad for their upcoming T20I series in Pakistan ahead of the T20 World Cup. But he has long been identified as a prospect across formats having spent time around Australia’s squad in the last 18 months.

Beardman is still emerging but has enjoyed a breakout BBL season marked by roughing up batters. He entered the attack in the fourth over with Sixers 21 for 1 but quickly turned the match with the wickets of Josh Philippe and skipper Moises Henriques.