Perth Scorchers advance to Big Bash final as Sydney Sixers crumble

Josh Inglis and Kurtis Patterson scored half-centuries for the Scorchers before a batting collapse of epic proportions all but ended Sydney Sixers' hopes inside 12 overs

Melbourne: Perth Scorchers 189-3, Sydney Sixers 141 – Perth Scorchers won by 48 runs

Perth Scorchers booked their place in their seventh Big Bash final with a convincing 48-run victory over defending champions Sydney Sixers.

The Sixers didn’t have ideal preparation for the qualifier, losing Jack Edwards and Daniel Hughes from their squad before the match. Edwards was forced into isolation shortly just 30 minutes before the bat flip after his brother Mickey returned an 'inconclusive' Covid test while Hughes injured his ankle on the boundary rope during fielding practice.

The Scorchers, on the other hand, were boosted by the return of Laurie Evans (injury) and Jhye Richardson (international duty).

Batting first, Scorchers openers Josh Inglis and Kurtis Patterson blast 120 runs off 74 balls for the first wicket with the former, in particular, impressing with the bat. Having scored just 45 runs in his previous six innings, Inglis hit 10 boundaries on his way to 79 off 49 deliveries.

^{Ben Dwarshuis fought back in vain with the bat for Sydney Sixers [Mike Owen/Getty Images]}

Patterson cleared the rope three times in his knock of 64 (41) while in-form batter Mitchell Marsh added 28 runs of his own to help the Scorchers close on 189.

Hayden Kerr (2 for 37) and Steve O’Keefe (1 for 36) were the wicket-takers for the Sixers while Dan Christian was the only bowler to concede fewer than nine runs per over.

Sydney Sixers’ chase got off to a shocking start, with Justin Avendano (0), Josh Philippe (5) and Jordan Silk (1) all dismissed inside the opening four overs.

Skipper Moises Henriques attempted to get a foothold in the game but was dismissed for 17 by Richardson, who finished with figures of 2 for 21, while Nicholas Bertus, Christian and Sean Abbott all departed for single-figure knocks as the Sixers collapsed to 55 for 7 in the 12th over.

Ben Dwarshuis, however, was determined to put up a fight and smashed 66 runs off 29 balls (seven fours, four sixes) – the first half-century of his T20 career. Sadly, his effort would be in vain and with 51 runs needed off the final over, he surrendered to Peter Hatzoglou (stumped Inglis) with four balls remaining.

Each of the Scorchers bowlers took a wicket, with Richardson, Jason Behrendorff (2 for 31), Ashton Agar (2 for 16) and AJ Tye (2 for 38) picking up two apiece and Hatzoglou posting 1 for 29.

Sydney Sixers will now face the winner of Sydney Thunder versus Adelaide Strikers on January 26 for a place in the final.

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