Scorchers bowlers ready to halt Sixers juggernaut

Perth Scorchers captain Suzie Bates is confident her collective bowling unit is capable of stopping the formidable Sixers batting unit in Saturday’s Rebel Women’s Big Bash final.  

The Sixers have scored more runs than any other team, boast two of the competition’s top five runs scorers and are averaging 148 when batting first this tournament. 

They massacred the Hobart Hurricanes bowling in the semi-final when they notched the second highest score of WBBL|02, but the Scorchers skipper believes her experienced bowling unit will pose a different threat to the Sixers batting line-up.

“Our bowling line-up of Brunt and Shrubsole is a bit different to the Hurricanes so hopefully we can keep them to a low score.” Bates said in Perth on Friday.

“We have played them in two games this season and I thought we played pretty well at times but we couldn’t quite get across the line.

"Our bowling line-up has been our strength and we have found some real good rhythm in the last few games."

While the Scorchers skipper did not confirm she would chose to bowl first if she won the toss on Saturday, she hinted it might be a tactic they would look to employ. 

“It is dangerous to get into the mindset of one or the other but I think the Sixers like to bat first and we have preferred to bowl first.

“But on a WACA wicket in the final runs are vital as well. I like to chase but it depends on how the wicket is going to play.”

The Scorchers have won three of their past four games chasing so it is clearly a tactic they could lean towards on Saturday. 

But whether they bat first or second, the Scorchers bowlers will need to find an avenue to stop the rampaging Alyssa Healy. 

Healy has scores of 77 and 84 in her previous two innings but the stand-in Sixers skipper is not getting carried away with her form. 

"T20 is funny game, you never feel in form and this season shows that, the way my form has gone up and down. Hopefully I can take that [form] into Saturday’s game,” Healy said.

Another player the Sixers will rely on to score some big runs is Sara McGlashan. The Kiwi star has scored 335 runs this season but doubts remain over her fitness after she aggravated an existing knee injury in the semi-final victory over the Hurricanes. 

When asked about McGlashan’s injury, Healy joked: "She’s all right, she’s just old. That’s all I got out of (her).

“It’s just an old lady injury but she is doing all the right things and I think she will be right to go tomorrow."

Sixers are aware of the tough task that confronts them on Saturday with the temperatures set to soar close to 40 degrees but Healy felt the team will be up for the whatever challenge they face. 

"We have played a lot of games in the heat this year in Sydney - in 35 or 37 degrees - it is the final and a double header in front of a big crowd so we will just relish in that.”