‘Icing on top’: Ellyse Perry has the WBBL on notice as Sixers look to end “frustrating” title drought

There are superstars everywhere you look going into the WBBL finals, but one in-form batter has everyone on notice as her side looks to end its title drought.

Sixers skipper Ash Gardner says her side’s lack of finals cricket in recent years has been “frustrating”, but the WBBL heavyweights are back where they belong and just two wins away from becoming the first side to claim three titles.

The Sixers were in each of the first four WBBL finals, with Sydney winning back-to-back titles before their streak was snapped in the fourth season.

But success has deserted the women in magenta, with the Sixers making the finals just once since then, their campaign ending in a loss at home in the decider against Adelaide.

It’s been almost nine years since the Sixers last won the WBBL title. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Their absence from the finals has been hard to stomach given the international stars in their squad, but the drought is over this week with Sydney to host either the Stars or Scorchers on Thursday night for a spot in the final against Hobart.

“It’s been quite a frustrating time,” Gardner said after her side’s epic one-run win over the Strikers on Sunday where both teams were playing for a finals berth.

“We had so much success through the early part of the Big Bash, and then we made the final a few years ago where we obviously went down to the Strikers.

“We’ve played OK cricket (since then), but not consistent cricket.

“I think this season has also shown that we’ve won those scrappy games, which gives a lot of character and fight in the change room.

SIXERS WIN BY ONE RUN.

INCREDIBLE! #WBBL11pic.twitter.com/pNRUcJzbe9

— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) December 7, 2025

“But it’s also about winning those small moments which we’ve been on both sides of. We’ve lost games that we probably should have won, and vice versa.

“Going into the finals, we’ve hopefully got a lot of confidence in the change room. That’s all you can ask for in these moments.”

It’s been a rollercoaster season for the Sixers who won both Sydney Smashes against the Thunder and ended Hobart’s unbeaten start to the campaign, while they were also bowled out for 42 — the second-lowest total in WBBL history — by the Stars.

It took a wild finish for them to book their place in the finals with Gardner keeping her cool in the last over after teammate Ellyse Perry had earlier smashed her highest WBBL score.

Perry’s 111 continued her hot streak that has seen her score 383 runs this season, but more importantly she’s done it at a career-best strike rate of almost 142.

Ellyse Perry is in terrific form ahead of the finals. Picture: Ayush Kumar/Getty Images

Her attacking mindset has added a new string to her bow and has put the rest of the competition on notice heading into the finals.

“Pez (Perry) is a purist who has expanded her game even more by opening up behind the wicket,” Gardner said.

“She’s brought that evolution even more to the front by being able to play behind the wicket as well as hitting sixes down the ground.

“She’s a very hard person to bowl to. As a batting team, you never feel like you’re out of it when Pez is in there batting deep.

“For her to score a century was the icing on top, and hopefully she can take some of that momentum into the finals.”

Originally published as ‘Icing on top’: Ellyse Perry has the WBBL on notice as Sixers look to end “frustrating” title drought