Perth Scorchers win thriller against Sydney Sixers to qualify for Big Bash League 2014 final

Perth Scorchers win a thrilling semi-final encounter to reach the BBL 2014 final.

Feb 5, 2014

In the most peculiar turnout of events, the Perth Scorchers survived a nail-biting finish to win the second semi-final of the Big Bash League 2014 by five runs and booked a final berth against the Hobart Hurricanes. Sydney Sixers failed to capitalise on the opportunity provided by the rain delay and the consequently applied Duckworth-Lewis method, which meant they required 54 off five overs to win the encounter.

After a Craig Simmons-charged Perth Scorchers blasted the Sixers attack to raise 193 for the loss of five wickets in their quota of 20 overs in the first innings, rain halted the start of the Sydney innings. Both the teams and the crowd witnessed a 30-minute break, and when the umpires felt they were good to go for the second time in the match, the Scorchers got a shock when D/L method asked them to defend not 194 off 20 overs, but 54 off five overs.

But their bowlers rose to the occasion, and tied the Sixers batsmen in a web of wonderfully planned bowling. The Sixers batsmen could’t really connect, and kept losing their batsmen at regular intervals.

The Sixers ultimately required 17 off the last over, but could manage only 12. Nic Maddinson hit a couple of boundaries, but fell to a suicidal run-out.

It ultimately seemed fitting that the Scorchers won the tie, after one felt that the D/L method would strip them of a fair chance.

Brief scores:

Perth Scorchers 193 for 5 (Craig Simmons 112, Adam Voges 31; Brett Lee 1 for 27, Mitchell Starc 2 for 37) beat Sydney Sixers 48 for 6 in 5 overs (Nic Maddinson 36; Pat Cummins 2 for 6) by 5 runs via D/L method.