Scorchers secure Big Bash League

Perth Scorchers have made it back-to-back triumphs in the KFC T20 Big Bash League in the most thrilling circumstances in Canberra, chasing down 148 against a valiant Sydney Sixers with four wickets in hand off the final ball of the match.

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Arafat celebrates as Lee is dejected after the final ball // Getty Images

A match that ebbed and flowed from the outset seemed destined to come down to the final over – fittingly bowled by retiring superstar Brett Lee, who claimed two wickets to be on a hat-trick with the final delivery of his career.

But it wasn’t to be, as Yasir Arafat dug out the yorker and took off for what seemed a suicidal single, only for the Sixers to miss a run-out opportunity and the Scorchers scrambled home to claim the title for the second time.

The thrilling final ball of BBL|04 

Justin Langer’s men dominated the early stages of the match, taking four wickets inside the first 10 overs, but a superb innings from Moises Henriques (77 off 57) and capable support from Ryan Carters (35 not out off 25) swing the match back on an even keel at the mid-innings break.

Sixers captain stands tall 

Henriques won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that looked like it would contain a little something for both pace and spin, and the former quickly proved true.

Nathan Coulter-Nile continued his fine comeback form with the breakthrough wicket of Michael Lumb (3), and seven balls later, it was his opening partner Jason Behrendorff’s turn to knock over an import, as Riki Wessels (2) dismissal left the Sixers reeling at 2-7 after three overs.

Nic Maddinson and Henriques looked the pair most likely to resurrect the innings, and for a while they set about doing exactly that, until Yasir Arafat broke the 37-run stand with a lethal yorker that castled Maddinson for 19.

Scorchers' early wickets 

And when Brad Hogg bowled Jordan Silk through the gate the very next over, the Sixers were in all sorts of trouble at 4-49 in the 10th.

Sixers fans were hoping for someone to stand up alongside Henriques, and they found their man in Carters.

The keeper-batsman joined his skipper in a stirring fightback, combining for a 98-run stand that revived the contest, as the two collected 63 from the last five overs before Henriques was run out from the final ball of the innings.

Scorchers pair Shaun Marsh (73 off 59) and Michael Klinger (33 off 37) utilised their considerable experience to negotiate their way through the first half of the innings, upping the run rate as the partnership wore on as they expertly took control of proceedings.

Marsh magic sparks Scorchers

Klinger set the tone early with a couple of well-timed fours through the off side, before Marsh broke the shackles by lifting Nathan Lyon over wide long on for a maximum.

The gifted left-hander looked the part from there as Henriques rung the changes and finally the reintroduction of Lee did the trick.

The veteran quick tricked Klinger with a slower ball, who picked out Sean Abbott at backward square leg to leave the Scorchers at 1-70 in the 12th over.

Marsh and Scorchers captain Adam Voges grafted away but it was the Sixers who suddenly started piling on the pressure, with Lee conceding just three from his first two overs and Abbott also containing well.

Voges (20 off 13) attempted to force the pace off Doug Bollinger but skied a chance to Carters, who made no mistake.

But Marsh was the main man, and the turning point came after he had passed his half-century when Lee returned and was no-balled for having just three men inside the circle.

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Marsh paced his innings to perfection but fell at a crucial time // Getty Images

Bollinger was the culprit, and Marsh faced a wide before capitalising on the free hit with a six, and with two taken on the initial no-ball, the Scorchers had effectively taken 10 from one Lee delivery, reducing the equation from 32 needed off 18 to a much more manageable 22 off 17.

Henriques bravely gambled in the penultimate over by bringing on Lyon, who promptly repaid his captain’s faith, enticing Marsh into the big shot first up, with the opening batsman picking out Abbott at deep midwicket.

Two balls later, Ashton Turner was out for a golden duck, also holing out to Abbott who was seemingly everywhere in the field.

A six from Lyon’s final delivery from Coulter-Nile meant eight was needed from the final over – Lee’s final in a wonderful career – and after Carberry went 4,2,1 from the first two deliveries to level the scores, the contest looked done and dusted.

But the highest drama was yet to come.

Charging in for the final few times, Lee knocked over Coulter-Nile, sending Manuka wild with his trademark chainsaw celebration.

Next ball, incredibly, he repeated the dose, clean bowling Sam Whiteman to suddenly raise the possibility of a Super Over from almost nowhere.

The 38-year-old was on a hat-trick, and Arafat was on strike with one delivery remaining.

The Pakistani made contact, squirting it out to wide midwicket where the throw came in but Henriques, standing over the stumps, failed to hang onto the hot return – a miss that cost him the opportunity to run out the stranded batsman.

With that, the title was retained by the Scorchers, who solidified their dominance on the Big Bash League and will represent Australia, along with the Sixers, at this year’s Champions League tournament.

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