BBL: Scorchers wins Big Bash 4

Perth Scorchers win their second consecutive KFC Big Bash title after beating Sydney Sixers in one of the most thrilling matches one will ever see. They successfully chased down the par score of 148 with 4 wickets to spare. It was also the last match for legend Brett Lee.

Sixers won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that looked like it would contain a little something for both pace and spin, and the former quickly proved true.

Sixers started terribly losing both their openers, Michael Lumb and Riki Wessels, by the end of second over. Jason Behrendorff bowled superbly and maintained a slow run rate. By the end of ten overs, Sixers were at 50 with the loss of 4 wickets. Skipper Moises Henriques resurrected the Sixers innings and smashed the ball all around the park. His record partnership stand of 98 with Ryan Carters helped them to reach 147-7 by the end of the innings.

On the contrary, Justin Langer’s men dominated the early stages of their innings. Shaun Marsh and Michael Klinger put up a 7- run stand for the opening partnership setting the match up for Scorchers. Henriques reintroduced Lee and the veteran quick tricked Klinger with a slower ball, who picked out Sean Abbott at backward square leg to leave the Scorchers at 1-70 in the 12th over. Voges (20 off 13) attempted to force the pace off Doug Bollinger but chipped a chance to Carters, who made no mistake. Suddenly Scorchers were facing the heat.

Henriques gambled in bringing Lyon to bowl in the 19th over. His gamble worked as Lyon dismissed well set Marsh, caught by Sean Abott at deep mid wicket. Two balls later, Ashton Turner was out for a golden duck, also holing out to Abbott who was seemingly everywhere in the field. But the match turned again when Lyon’s final bowl was hit for a six bringing the equation down to 8 off 6.

Brett Lee was brought again to bowl the final over of the tournament and his career. Lee bowled full and straight and Carberry ramped it over fine-leg for four. But the drama was not over. 1 was required off 3 balls. Coulter-Nile steped across his stumps, and Lee bowled him round his legs. Whiteman steps out and tries to loft it inside out over extra-cover but misses and it shatters the top of off stump. Lee was on a hat trick on the last bowl of his career. And suddenly there was a possibility of super over in the final. Lee bowled full and on the leg stump, Arafat flicks it away to mid-wicket, the fielder fired an accurate throw to skipper Henriques who was right next to the stumps but he breaks the bails without the ball. With that, Scorchers retained the title.

Shaun Marsh was given Man of the Match award for his 73 off 59 balls.

Jacques Kallis is the Man of the Tournament.

Sydney Sixers 147/7

Perth Scorchers 148/6