BBL finals race: Seven games remain to secure spots

The Brisbane Heat have surged into the top five with three wins on the trot and now have their destiny in their own hands as they chase just a fourth BBL finals appearance.

We're into the final five days of the KFC BBL|12 regular season and with just seven games remaining, five teams are battling it out for the remaining three finals spots with the Scorchers and Sixers already locked in as the top two.

The Sixers must win tonight's Sydney Smash at the SCG against crosstown rivals the Thunder keep their hopes of a first-placed finish alive, otherwise the Scorchers will claim a fifth top-of-the-table finish and earn hosting rights for The Qualifier next Saturday.

The Scorchers will be searching for an unprecedented fifth BBL title when the finals series gets underway on January 27, while the Sixers will be gunning for a record-equalling fourth Big Bash crown.

With just two points separating the Renegades, Thunder, Heat, Strikers and Hurricanes from third to seventh, there's all to play for in the final days of the home-and-away season.

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1st: Perth Scorchers (20 points)

Played: 13 | Won: 10 | Lost: 3 | NRR: 1.242

Run home  

Jan 22 v Renegades (Perth Stadium)

A thumping win over the Strikers with 53 balls to spare at Adelaide Oval has the Scorchers just one point away from another top-of-the-table finish in the 12th edition of the competition.

Victory over the Renegades on Sunday night – or a Sixers loss in either of their remaining two matches – and Perth will host The Qualifier next Saturday.

After an unsettled start to their BBL|12 campaign where they lost all three draft picks before the tournament began, the Scorchers' local talent has again held them in good stead right throughout the tournament as they search for an unprecedented fifth title.

Faf du Plessis provided the fireworks in the first half of the season, but it has been Josh Inglis and newly promoted No.3 Aaron Hardie who have put the onus on themselves to deliver with the bat, given Mitch Marsh's absence for the entirety of the season.

The ever-reliable Andrew Tye sits atop of the wicket-taker's list with 23, while Jason Behrendorff (17) and the injured Jhye Richardson (15) round out a formidable first-choice pace attack.

Richardson is expected to return for their finals campaign as he battles a hamstring injury, however Englishman David Payne and Aussie Test squad member Lance Morris have provided ample cover throughout his recovery.

2nd: Sydney Sixers (17 points)

Played: 12 | Won: 8 | Lost: 3 | No result: 1 | NRR: 0.297

Run home 

Tonight v Thunder (SCG)

Jan 23 v Hurricanes (Blundstone Arena)

Victory tonight against crosstown rivals the Thunder and the Sixers stay in the hunt for a first-placed finish. Lose and they finish second, with a trip across the country to Perth awaiting next Saturday.

A stunning Steve Smith century – the first Sixers male to reach the milestone in club history – secured the club a fifth straight finals appearance with victory over the Strikers in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday night.

And they're the only team that can knock the Scorchers from top spot, provided they win their remaining two games, and the Scorchers lose their final match to the Renegades.

With two games to close out the season against teams below them on the ladder, they will be confident in giving themselves every chance to add a fourth title to their cabinet.

It has been a collective effort from the experienced Sixers, with only Sean Abbott's 19 wickets standing out among some of the other top performers so far in the competition.

Four of their eight wins have come by less than seven runs or in the last over when chasing, with veterans Jordan Silk, Dan Christian and Moises Henriques all stepping up in crucial moments.

3rd: Melbourne Renegades (12 points)

Played: 12 | Won: 6 | Lost: 6 | NRR: -0.047

Run home

Jan 22 v Scorchers (Perth Stadium)

Jan 24 v Strikers (Marvel Stadium)

It has been a welcome return to form for the Renegades after three seasons entrenched at the foot of the table, however they must still win at least one game if they are to return to the finals for the first time since their championship season of BBL|08.

Defeat to the Thunder on Thursday night saw them miss a golden opportunity to all but seal a finals berth, however Aaron Finch's men remain in third spot despite the defeat.

They next face the Scorchers in Perth this weekend, before returning to Marvel Stadium for their final game against the Strikers, where they have lost only once this season.

The Renegades' campaign started with three consecutive wins, and while they have been beaten convincingly by table-toppers the Scorchers and Sixers (twice), a pair of Melbourne derby victories has kept them in the top five right throughout BBL|12.

A trio of half centuries from wicketkeeper Sam Harper in his three knocks prior to the Thunder loss has stabilised the 'Gades batting line up, while the all-round emergence of Will Sutherland has been pivotal in their rise up the ladder as they hold the weight of Melbourne's title hopes on their shoulders.

4th: Sydney Thunder (12 points)

Played: 12 | Won: 6 | Lost: 6 | NRR: -0.328

Run home

Tonight v Sixers (SCG)

Jan 25 v Stars (MCG)

A commanding win over the Renegades on Thursday night has seen the Thunder leapfrog the Strikers and Hurricanes into fourth in what was a crucial victory that snapped a three-game losing streak.

However the Thunder's poor net run rate (NRR) leaves them needing victory in at least one, and possibly two (depending on other results) of their final two matches of the BBL|12 regular season to make a fourth-consecutive finals series.

Saturday's Sydney Smash, which pits Steve Smith against David Warner for the first time on Australian soil since a famous day at Coogee Oval back in 2018, is crucial for Chris Green's side.

Whatever the result in that highly anticipated clash, their final match of the season against the bottom-placed Stars will be a live one, with the possibility that the Thunder require a big win to boost their NRR and sneak into the finals.

5th: Brisbane Heat (11 points)

Played: 12 | Won: 5 | Lost: 6 | No result: 1 | NRR: -0.592

Run home 

Jan 22 v Stars (Gabba)

Jan 25 v Hurricanes (UTAS Stadium)

A sensational bowling effort to hold off the Hurricanes last night at the Gabba fired the Heat into fifth spot and back in control of their own finals destiny.

After three consecutive wins the equation is simple – beat the Stars on Sunday and the Hurricanes again on Wednesday at Heat will play finals for just the fourth time in the 12 seasons of the competition.

It is possible for the Heat to beat the Stars and lose to the Hurricanes in their final game and still make the finals, but that requires other results to go their way, ie for the Hurricanes or Renegades to lose one of their remaining matches before the Heat and Canes square off in Launceston.

Spencer Johnson has emerged as one of the new stars of the Big Bash with a clutch final over to globetrotting power-hitter Tim David that went for just five runs to clinch a crucial victory.

The recent additions of Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Renshaw – who was the hero against the Stars on Monday – has no doubt provided some class and stability to their line up, while Michael Neser's strong form with the ball has been a constant all season.

The X-factor of Josh Brown has also been a highlight, with the powerful opener lighting up the Gabba at times, however the Heat have struggled to consistently post winning totals.

6th: Adelaide Strikers (10 points)

Played: 13 | Won: 5 | Lost: 8 | NRR: -0.108

Run home 

Jan 24 v Renegades (Marvel Stadium)

A disappointing showing against the Scorchers at home on Friday afternoon means the Strikers are now relying on other results to fall in their favour. After being rolled for 92 on a glorious Adelaide day, the Scorchers knocked off the total in 11.1 overs without the home side even firing a shot.

It has left the Strikers languishing in sixth spot with one match to play against the Renegades at Marvel on Tuesday. They first must win that and then rely on at least two of the Renegades, Thunder, Heat and Hurricanes to lose each of their remaining two matches.

After initially appearing to be the team to beat in BBL|12 with three convincing wins to open the season, the Strikers suffered a mid-season slump and are among a pack of teams contending for the final three spots in the top five, and NRR may be needed to sort out the logjam.

Matt Short (458) and Chris Lynn (416) remain the leading run-scorers in the competition, however the latter's departure for a UAE T20 tournament leaves them with a gaping hole in their batting line-up should they secure a finals spot.

Strikers' stalwarts Travis Head and Alex Carey have struggled to find their T20 grove since returning from Test duties and they will be unavailable should they go deep into the finals when they depart for Australia's Qantas Tour of India.

Henry Thornton and Wes Agar have been bright sparks with the ball and were at the centre of the Strikers' rout of the Thunder for just 15 earlier in the season, but have fallen away since, resulting in their side winning just two of their last 10.

7th: Hobart Hurricanes (10 points)

Played: 12 | Won: 5 | Lost: 7 | NRR: -0.3

Run home  

Jan 23 v Sixers (Blundstone Arena)

Jan 25 v Heat (UTAS Stadium)

Remarkably, despite last night's thrilling final over loss to the Heat, the Hurricanes finals destiny it still in their own hands.

Beat the Sixers on Monday and the Heat on Wednesday and they're in, with the dream of a maiden BBL title still alive.

And with both games in Tasmania – the first in Hobart and the second in Launceston – they're definitely getable.

Widely tipped before the season as one of the teams to beat in BBL|12, an inconsistent Hurricanes outfit haven't been able to find any regularity so far this campaign.

The emergence of Paddy Dooley with the ball has been the story of the 'Canes season, although he missed last night's loss to the Heat after limping off with a groin injury in their previous clash with the Scorchers.

Blaster Tim David has hit his straps in the second half of the season, but just couldn't get his side over the line last night after his teammates left him with too much to do in the final few overs. 

The Hurricanes will be looking to contributions from senior players in Matthew Wade, David, Ben McDermott and Ellis to help secure finals qualification in their final two matches.

8th: Melbourne Stars (6 points)

Played: 12 | Won: 3 | Lost: 9 | NRR: -0.276

Run home

Jan 22 v Heat (Gabba)

Jan 25 v Thunder (MCG)

While there still would have been a lot of work to do, the Stars decision to rest Nathan Coulter-Nile in their last-over loss to the Renegades last Saturday may just have proven costly in keeping their finals hopes alive.

With only two games remaining and the Stars sitting five points out of the top five, their chances of returning to the finals are over after a tough season without skipper Glenn Maxwell, as well as Marcus Stoinis for a large chunk.

The absence of the star pair left their batting line up with too much to make up for, with only English recruit Joe Clarke among the competition's top run-scorers.

Fellow Englishman Luke Wood has snared 17 wickets but again, not enough of his teammates have been able to significantly contribute to aid their push for a finals berth.

This Sunday's return clash with the Heat offers them a chance for redemption, while they take on the Thunder in their final match next Wednesday in a game that mirrors the thrilling contest that opened BBL|12. The best they can hope for is two wins, and two loses for the Hurricanes, which would at least see the Stars avoid another wooden spoon.