Perth Scorchers secure final place as Sydney Sixers finish last

Two-time champions Sixers finished bottom, bringing to an end a poor campaign, with Scorchers now preparing for a final on home soil

Adelaide: Sydney Sixers 128-4, Perth Scorchers 131-2 - Perth Scorchers win by eight wickets

Scorecard

Perth Scorchers confirmed their place at the top of the Women’s Big Bash group stage - and a direct route into the final - by beating Sydney Sixers easily in Adelaide.

Two-time champions Sixers finished bottom, bringing to an end a poor campaign, with Ashleigh Gardner left out on the back of four successive ducks.

Chloe Piparo recorded her first half century for Scorchers in a comfortable chase, winning with 17 balls to spare after restricting Ellyse Perry’s side to a below-par total.

Perry top-scored for Sydney, making 39 off 37 balls, but no one was able to cut loose, with Alyssa Healy falling for 17 on her 100th appearance for the team.

Alana King claimed three wickets, including Healy’s and that of India’s Shafali Verma.

^{Scorchers are through to the final, while Sixers have finished last for the first time}

Sixers’ display was an improvement on 24 hours earlier when they had been bowled out for just 82 by Adelaide Strikers but it was never likely to be enough against the table-toppers, who knocked off their target with ease.

Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney gave Scorchers a solid start in the powerplay, from which Piparo and Heather Graham were able to capitalise. Graham ended unbeaten on 34.

Perry has captained Sixers in every edition of the tournament, with Ben Sawyer as head coach. But this was the third year in a row in which they have failed to qualify for the latter stages and the first time they have finished last.

Scorchers, meanwhile, move on, with a place in the final secured – a game that will be played at Perth Stadium next Saturday.