Aussie stars Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith and Mitch Marsh line up in the Qualifier for a spot in the BBL|15 Final
Sydney Sixers are chasing 148 for a spot in the KFC BBL|15 Final after left-arm pair Mitchell Starc and Ben Dwarshuis took two wickets apiece to restrict Perth Scorchers.
In typical Starc fashion, the superstar quick – playing his first Big Bash finals match since BBL|03 – struck in his first over to remove Australian teammate and Scorchers opener Mitch Marsh (5) after Sixers skipper Moises Henriques opted to bowl in sweltering 39C heat.
Tuesday’s Qualifier at Optus Stadium was Marsh’s first BBL finals appearance for the Scorchers since their BBL|11 triumph, while the Sixers’ Steve Smith also returned to BBL finals action for the first time in three seasons.
Scorchers XI: Mitch Marsh, Finn Allen, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (wk), Aaron Hardie, Ashton Turner (c), Laurie Evans, Jhye Richardson, Brody Couch, David Payne, Mahli Beardman
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Sixers XI: Steve Smith, Babar Azam, Josh Philippe (wk), Moises Henriques (c), Lachlan Shaw, Jack Edwards, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Ben Manenti, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc
Marsh’s opening partner Finn Allen gave the hosts’ innings a fast start with four sixes in his 49 from 30 balls, setting a new benchmark for the most sixes in a single BBL season with 37.
But they fell away through the middle overs as Sixers allrounders Jack Edwards (2-25) and Sean Abbott (0-24) put the squeeze on.
Starc (2-32) struck again to remove Aaron Hardie as Dwarshuis (2-23) also picked up a brace of wickets, including the dangerous Laurie Evans cheaply before he’d had an opportunity to take the Power Surge.
Off-spinning allrounder Ben Manenti, into the side for England star Sam Curran who has departed the tournament for international duties, also chipped in with the wicket of Cooper Connolly who was sharply caught by Babar Azam at backward point.
A hedge fire around the perimeter of Optus Stadium briefly halted the Sixers charge as Scorchers skipper Ashton Turner (29) and Jhye Richardson (20) boosted their total late to give their bowlers something to try and defend against a star-studded batting line up headed by Smith and Babar.
The winner of tonight’s Qualifier goes straight through to the Final, which they will also host next Sunday, while the loser will get another crack at qualifying against either Hobart Hurricanes or Melbourne Stars.
BBL|15 finals schedule
Qualifier: Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers, Optus Stadium (Tuesday, January 20, 7.30pm AEDT)
Knockout: Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Stars, Ninja Stadium (Wednesday, January 21, 7.30pm AEDT)
Challenger: Loser of Qualifier v winner of Knockout, TBC (Friday, January 23, 7.15pm AEDT)
Final: Winner of Qualifier v winner of Challenger, TBC (Sunday, January 25, 7.15pm AEDT)
*A reserve day on Monday, January 26 (7.15pm AEDT) is available for the Final
KFC BBL|15 standings
Team
Matches played
M
Wins
W
Losses
L
Ties
T
No results
N/R
Net Run Rate
NRR
Deductions
Ded.
Total points
PTS
1
Perth Scorchers Men
SCO
10
7
3
0
0
1.363
0
14
2
Sydney Sixers Men
SIX
10
6
3
0
1
0.605
0
13
3
Hobart Hurricanes Men
HUR
10
6
3
0
1
0.331
0
13
4
Melbourne Stars Men
STA
10
6
4
0
0
0.759
0
12
5
Brisbane Heat Men
HEA
10
5
5
0
0
-0.431
0
10
6
Adelaide Strikers Men
STR
10
4
6
0
0
-0.231
0
8
7
Melbourne Renegades Men
REN
10
3
7
0
0
-1.202
0
6
8
Sydney Thunder Men
THU
10
2
8
0
0
-1.212
0
4
Legend
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
N/R: No results
NRR: Net Run Rate
Ded.: Deductions
PTS: Total points