Perth Scorchers have etched their name deeper into Big Bash League folklore, securing a record-extending sixth championship with a commanding six-wicket victory over Sydney Sixers in the final clash on January 25. The powerhouse side now boasts titles from five previous campaigns: 2013/14, 2014/15, 2016/17, 2021/22, and 2022/23.
Opting to field first after winning the toss, Scorchers bowlers tore into the Sixers’ batting lineup, restricting them to 132 all out off the final ball of the innings. Opener Daniel Hughes was the first to go for 7, setting a tone of fragility. Josh Philippe and Steve Smith mounted a brief resistance with 27 runs, but Smith holed out for 24 from 13 balls.
Captain Moises Henriques joined Philippe for a 32-run alliance, yet both managed only 24 apiece. Standout performers Jhye Richardson and David Payne bagged three wickets each, with young gun Mahli Beardman snaring two and Aaron Hardie one, dismantling the opposition with precision.
In pursuit of victory, Scorchers’ openers Mitchell Marsh and Finn Allen unleashed mayhem, forging an 80-run platform in 50 balls. Allen’s fiery 36 off 22 (4×4, 1×6) ended prematurely, followed by Hardie’s quick 5. Marsh’s masterful 44 (4×4, 2×6) off 43 balls, combined with Josh Inglis’s unbeaten 29, steered them to the target in 17.3 overs.
Sean Abbott led the Sixers’ fightback with two scalps, supported by single wickets from Mitchell Starc and Jack Edwards. Perth’s clinical execution in both departments underscores their championship pedigree, leaving Sydney ruing a below-par total and missed opportunities. The win sparks wild festivities, affirming Scorchers’ reign in Australian T20 cricket.