Congratulations to the Sydney Sixers!
They were indeed the best ad most consistent side through the season and the dominant force in the finals.
In Vince, Christian, Henriques and O’Keefe they had players who showed smarts, aggression and heart when it counted.
As a result, they emerged back-to-back BBL champions, downing rivals the Perth Scorchers in a drama-filled blockbuster at the SCG on Saturday night.
Under serious threat from rain all day, the Sydney skies cleared in time for the final, giving way to a fitting finale to the summer of cricket between the BBL’s two best teams.
The Sixers were sent in to bat first by the Scorchers in what was the fourth BBL finals meeting between the two heavyweights.
But James Vince promptly put the Scorchers on the back foot, blasting 95 runs off 60 balls in a man-of-the-match innings as the Sixers posted 6-188.
On an SCG pitch that had to offer some assistance for spin, the Scorchers’ captain Ashton Turner got his at tactics wrong.
Fawad Ahmed failed to bowl his full quota of 4 overs, even after going for just 16 from his three overs and managing to get the prize wicket of Vince.
That left the Scorchers needing the biggest successful chase in a BBL final to secure their fourth title.
Instead, the Sixers restricted the Scorchers to 9-161.
The Sydney bowlers delivered when it mattered.
Jackson Bird dismissed both the Perth openers when they looked settled. He also returned for the 11th over and slowed down Perth with his subtle variations in length and line.
O’Keefe, also played a big role with his restrictive figures of 0 for 26 in four overs.
This suddenly increased the asking rate and wickets started tumbling. Ben Dwarshuis was the biggest wicket taker with 3 for 37.
Sydney Sixers 6 for 188 (Vince 95, Tye 2-29, Richardson 2-45) beat Perth Scorchers 9 for 161 (Livingstone 45, Dwarshuis 3-37) by 27 runs
