Scorchers v Sixers: the decider

While perennial contenders Perth Scorchers hold the upper hand with a 6-3 overall record against the Sydney Sixers, tonight will mark the third time the two teams have met in a KFC Big Bash League decider.

The Scorchers finished the regular season atop the ladder and swept aside the Melbourne Stars in the semi-finals, while the Sixers advanced courtesy of a thrilling super over victory against the Brisbane Heat.

The stage is set for what is sure to be an engrossing finale, but let’s take a stroll down memory lane and review the previous two BBL finals between the two clubs.

BBL|01: Perth Scorchers 5-156 (M Marsh 77, B Lee 2-21) lost to Sydney Sixers 3-158 (M Henriques 70, B Edmondson 2-30) by seven wickets with seven balls to spare

The Sixers were the first BBL club to get their hands on the silverware after Moises Henriques – aged just 24 at the time – hammered what proved to be a match-winning 70 in the inaugural final in 2012. His 70 came from just 41 balls, highlighted by six boundaries and four sixes to get his team off to a flyer in their pursuit of 157. Henriques and Steve O’Keefe (48) put on 110 for the first wicket before Steve Smith (21 not out) and Ben Rohrer (3 not out) finished the job with seven balls to spare.

Earlier, Scorchers allrounder Mitchell Marsh gave a glimpse of his potential by smacking 77 from 57 balls after arriving at the wicket with his side wobbling at 2-2. Paul Collingwood (32) and Marcus North (22) made handy contributions, but Sixers speedster Brett Lee, who removed Perth import Herschelle Gibbs with the first ball of the match on his way to 2-20, and a fresh-faced Mitchell Starc (2-40) helped limit the damage, paving the way for the Sixers to hoist the ultimate prize in the first season of the competition.

BBL|04: Sydney Sixers 5-147 (M Henriques 77, J Behrendorff 1-19) lost to Perth Scorchers 6-148 (S Marsh 73, B Lee 3-25) by four wickets

Competing in their fourth consecutive final and chasing back-to-back titles, the Scorchers came up trumps in a memorable contest in the nation’s capital. Just like he did in BBL|01, Henriques took centre stage during the Sixers’ innings, belting 77 runs off 57 balls. Apart from Ryan Carters, who made 35 not out, no other Sixers batsman reached 20 as they compiled 5-147 against the Scorchers’ disciplined bowling attack. Shaun Marsh (73 off 59) – assisted by opening partner Michael Klinger (33) – had the reigning champions rollicking along before a late stutter, eventually leaving them with eight to get off the final over of the game, and of Brett Lee’s professional career.

The task became a whole lot easier after Michael Carberry hit a ramp shot for four off the first ball of the over, leaving his team with four runs to get from five balls. Carberry then hit two off the next ball to put the Scorchers in the box seat. But Lee – who signed off in style with 3-25 from four overs – hit back strongly by removing Nathan Coulter-Nile and Sam Whiteman with consecutive yorkers with the fourth and fifth deliveries of the over – and with the scores level. On the last delivery, Yasir Arafat hit the hat-trick ball to mid-wicket before an accurate throw at the non-striker’s end was fumbled by Henriques as the Sixers immediately displayed the desolation of defeat and the Scorchers moved into celebration mode for a second consecutive year.

When the teams last met, the Sixers cruised to a six-wicket win on the back of 40 from Englishman Sam Billings, who has since departed due to international duties, while off-spinner Will Sommerville – with Nathan Lyon absent – grabbed 2-10.

The match will start at 7.15pm (AEDT), with the temperature tipped to be around 38 degrees when the first ball is bowled.