Perth Scorchers demolish Sydney Sixers to win fourth Big Bash title

The Perth Scorchers have made Australian cricket history after they absolutely demolished the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash Final.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 28: The Scorchers celebrate after they defeated the Sydney Sixers during the Men's Big Bash League match between the Perth Scorchers and the Sydney Sixers at Marvel Stadium, on January 28, 2022, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The Perth Scorchers are Big Bash champions for a record fourth time after demolishing the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash Final on Friday night.

The in-form Scorchers and the injury-ravaged Sixers were both going for a fourth title but the Sixers fell well short of a three-peat.

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The Sixers won the toss and elected to bowl, which appeared to be a masterstroke when the Scorchers were reeling at 4/25 with dangerman Mitch Marsh back in the dug out.

But skipper Ashton Turner and Englishman Laurie Evans dragged the men in orange back into the game with a sensational 104-run partnership that turned the game in Perth’s favour.

Turner had 54 off 35 balls in a superb captain’s knock, while Evans topscored with 76 off 41 as the Scorchers recovered to post a strong total of 171.

In reply, the Sixers never looked like chasing down the required runs, losing wickets at regular intervals as their batting line-up collapsed.

Daniel Hughes was the best of the Sixers with 42 off 33, but Nick Bertus (15) and Jay Lenton (10 not out) were the only others to reach double figures.

Perth’s world-class bowling stocks ripped through the Sixers, with all six of their bowlers claiming at least one wicket each.

The Scorchers celebrate after demolishing the Sixers in the BBL Final. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

AJ Tye took three wickets, while Jason Behrendorff, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Agar, and Peter Hatzoglou were all economical.

In the end, the Scorchers bowled out the Sixers in the 17th over and won by 79 runs.

The victory sees them become the first team to win four BBL titles in the history of the Big Bash.

The Scorchers also became just the second franchise to win both the BBL and WBBL in the same summer, following the success of the women’s team last year.

They were deserving winners, defeating the Sixers for the fourth time in BBL|11 — the first time a team has beaten the one opponent on four occasions in a single season.

Making the triumph even more impressive is the fact the Scorchers have been on the road for 50 days during the Covid-affected Big Bash.

Evans stuns with ‘shot of the tournament’

Laurie Evans’ counterattacking half century was excellent as he steadied the ship with Turner.

He struck too glorious cover drives for six — the first of which had commentators stunned. commenators labelled

“That’s the shot of the tournament. That is exquisite,” Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.

The sensational shot had fans in raptures, with some comparing it to a vintage Damian Martyn.

The @foxcricket commentators reaction say it all 😯 Is this the shot of #BBL11?

A BKT Golden Moment pic.twitter.com/c32higINi3

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 28, 2022

AAP sports reporter Oliver Caffrey tweeted; “Multiple cover drives for six — Laurie Evans is so damn good!”

Sports broadcaster Adam White said: “This is work of art. It’s so beautiful.”

That was Martynesque from Evans. Too far? #BBLFinal

— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) January 28, 2022

Laurie Evans (right) hit a matchwinning knock for the Scorchers. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Sixers off to a flyer with the ball

The Sixers made a brilliant start with the ball, taking three wickets in the first five overs to have the Scorchers 3/20.

After Kurtis Patterson departed early, Sixers star Sean Abbott had a shocker when he dropped a simple catch off Josh Inglis.

“That’s an absolute sitter,” Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket.

Thankfully for Abbott, it didn’t cost the Sixers any runs as Inglis was stumped by Jay Lenton off the bowling of Steve O’Keefe for 13.

The Scorchers collapse continued when dangerman Mitch Marsh hit a ball from Nathan Lyon straight down Dan Christian’s throat.

Kiwi Colin Munro was the next man to go when he was caught out reverse sweeping Lyon, who claimed his second wicket.

Fox Cricket commentator Mark Howard was stunned by the collapse.

“What is happening here at Marvel?,” he said. “The Scorchers are crumbling!”

“They’re having a nightmare the Scorchers,” Waugh added.

“They’re crumbling. They’re giving wickets away.