The Sydney Sixers have progressed through to an incredible eighth Big Bash grand final in 15 years on Friday night, courtesy of a dominant 57-run win over reigning champions Hobart.
After setting the Hurricanes a lofty target of 199, the visitors never looked truly in the contest before being bowled out for 141 with 16 balls remaining.
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Sent in to bat on their home turf, Australian Test superstar Steve Smith who once again propelled his side to a competitive total with an expansive 65 off 43 balls.
The 36-year-old’s knock saw nine fours and a six, and was well-supported with epic cameos from young guns Joel Davies (27 off 12) and Lachie Shaw (21 off 13) through the middle order.
Smith’s innings marked his third half-century in four innings, as he continues to dominate the domestic T20 league since his snubbing from Australia’s World Cup squad.
With the ball for the visitors, Riley Meredith (3/52), Billy Stanlake (2/46) and Rishad Hossain (2/33) claimed multiple scalps for Hobart, though the former two went the distance in exchange for their wickets.
MATCH CENTRE: Sixers v Hurricanes final score, stats and more
Star all-rounder Mitch Owen was unable to display shades of his epic knock in last year’s BBL|14 final, as he and fellow opener Tim Ward each departed for 13 to see the Hurricanes behind the eight-ball early.
No.4 Ben McDermott was the only batter to offer some form of resistance with a nice 40 off 26 balls, but his side’s required run rate continued to climb at an unsustainable rate.
It was then Davies who put the nail in the coffin on the result, taking two wickets in two balls to continue his stunning summer in the shortest format.
Mitchell Starc (2/29), Ben Dwarshius (3/26) and Sean Abbott (2/18) all joined Davies with at least a pair of wickets, and were far more economical than their purple counterparts.
STAR’S TOUGH RUN CONTINUES IN DO-OR-DIE CLASH
For the eighth time this BBL season, Owen has failed to face more than 10 balls in a game where expectations were high on the opening bat.
In his eleventh innings this season, Owen failed again, this time when the Hurricanes needed his fireworks in what was the biggest run chase required in BBL finals history at the SCG.
Even if you include the three times he has faced more than 10 balls, Owen has still failed to face more than 20 balls, with his best coming at just 18 balls where he belted 45 against the Thunder as the Hurricanes chased down a 206 total.
INCOMING CLASH OF THE TITANS
The Sydney Sixers return to Perth to battle for the BBL title in what is one of the biggest rivalries in the competition’s history.
The Perth Scorchers are the most successful club in the BBL with five titles while the Sixers are second with three titles.
The two teams have met in the final five times (Sunday will make it six) while both teams have been runners-up three times each as well.
All three times the Sixers have come second have been at the hands of the Scorchers with the last time the two teams came together in the final was in BBL11 at Marvel Stadium.
Across the 29 match ups, the Scorchers have claimed 17 wins, nine from batting second with four of those wins coming at Optus Stadium.
— sub-heads by NCA’s Jake Garland
Beau Webster isn’t happy with Wade… | 00:53
Hobart Hurricanes XI: Tim Ward, Mitchell Owen, Beau Webster, Ben McDermott (c), Nikhil Chaudhary, Matthew Wade (wk), Chris Jordan, Rishad Hossain, Will Prestwidge, Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake
Sydney Sixers XI: Steven Smith, Daniel Hughes, Josh Philippe (wk), Moises Henriques (c), Lachlan Shaw, Jack Edwards, Joel Davies, Ben Manenti, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc
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