Big Bash League: After defeating the Sydney Sixers in a qualifier. The Scorchers advance to the eighth grand final in the Big Bash League.
KFC BBL 12:To get to the eighth grand final at Optus Stadium on Saturday. The Perth Scorchers overcame injury, illness, and Australian superstar, Steve Smith.
After defeating longtime rivals Sydney Sixers by seven wickets in a nail-biting qualifying final in front of 41,126 spectators. The Melbourne Stars are just one victory away from a record-extending fifth Big Bash League championship and second straight.
The Scorchers’ fielding was a Jekyll and Hyde-like display. With two screamers, numerous easy catches missed, and a magnificent run out as the visitors produced a respectable 8-151. Which was chased down with nine balls remaining.
Captain Ashton Turner (84no off 47) and opener Cameron Bancroft (53no off 45) led the chase with a game-changing 132-run stand. Coming together at 3-22 after Sean Abbott (3-25 off 04) got Stephen Eskinazi (04), Aaron Hardie (09) and Josh Inglis (0) cheaply during the power play.
Turner, who finished unbroken after being dropped on 74 and passed Mitch Marsh as the franchise’s all-time highest run-scorer
When veteran Dan Christian and gloveman Josh Philippe failed to communicate. Also, allowed the ball to fall in between them from spinner Steve O’Keefe, Bancroft also gained a life on 28.
In his final BBL game before leaving for India, all eyes were on Smith. But he was unable to maintain his stellar form, falling for 18 to a brilliant David Payne caught-and-bowled after being given a life when Aaron Hardie missed an easy opportunity when he was on 12.
English seamer Payne overcame a case of the flu before the game to take 3-33, including the greatest scalp in the competition, before skipper Moises Henriques and Hayden Kerr were dismissed back-to-back to cap off his spell.
Prior to making his comeback, speedster Lance Morris (0-29 off four) coped with a similar ailment; nonetheless, he failed to pick up any wickets and had Smith dropped off him.
Following the withdrawal of fellow quicks Jhye Richardson and Matt Kelly.
Charlie Stobo, a WA-contracted player, was thrown into the extended squad. Until Henriques was on 18, he was about to become the top scorer with 58 from 43 balls when milestone man Andrew Tye blew a legal opportunity at backward point off David Payne.
Jordan Silk, who was undefeated on 47 off 34 and joined Henriques when the visitors were in difficulty at 3-42 after Smith’s exit, added 88 runs in the middle overs.
With two wickets in his first two overs. Left-arm seamer Jason Behrendorff (2-17 from four) continued to dominate in the power play. It all began with the fourth ball of the match. A flawless inswinger that nicked the top of Josh Philippe’s (one) off stump.
Kurtis Patterson was eliminated by Hardie with an incredible hanger at mid-on. Hardie plucked the ball out of the air with his right hand after a wonderfully timed jump. Leaving the former Scorcher astonished after misfiring on a pull stroke off Behrendorff.
The Sixers get a second chance at qualifying for the final. When they host the winner of Brisbane and Melbourne Renegades at the SCG on Thursday.
