Photo Credit: Perth Scorchers
Perth Scorchers showcased remarkable fortitude to secure a record-breaking fourth KFC Big Bash League title on Friday night, thumping Sydney Sixers by 79 runs at Marvel Stadium.
The Moments That Mattered
– Skipper Ashton Turner, who, during the final, became the Scorchers’ first ever 100-game player, delivered a true captain’s knock of 54 off 35 balls when it mattered most. Turner entered the fray at 3-20 after 5.1 overs, and was soon joined by Laurie Evans when the score was 4-25.
– The pair put on 104 runs in 9.5 overs, and Player of the Match Evans tallied a blistering 46-ball 76 before walking from the crease unbeaten. It was the English import’s highest score of BBL|11, compiled in breathtaking fashion.
– Guided by Turner and Evans’ heroics, Perth posted 6-171 from their allotted 20 overs, setting the Sixers a monumental task on a wicket that typically proved difficult to bat on.
– The Scorchers’ bowling attack – cohesive all tournament – were equally influential. Jason Behrendorff and Turner struck early, before the likes of AJ Tye (3-15), Jhye Richardson (2-20), Ashton Agar (1-25) and Peter Hatzoglou (1-13) applied the clamps.
– The Scorchers are now the most successful team in the KFC BBL, with four titles to their name.
Player of the Final Laure Evans spoke to media after the stunning title win:
“The good thing about having such depth is that we bat all the way down. I bat three at home, I’ve opened the batting, I’ve batted everywhere so coming in during those situations, it was about managing risk, managing my game, managing their game, and trying to figure out a game plan. Sometimes in the biggest games, it’s the easiest because it’s right in front of you.
“This game is about scoring runs, and I guess it was about finding a way to try and score runs in the circumstances.
“It’s a do or die game, so we tried to go down swinging if we can, and I tried to add a bit of experience and skill and put that all together into an innings. Just lucky it went my way.
“AT (Ashton Turner) and I have formed a really good relationship and we love batting together. He pushes me to run twos almost every ball so I was pretty knackered towards the end there but I absolutely love playing with him. We trade off well, he likes to hit straight, I like to hit square if I can and straight at the end.
“I had a couple of games here where I came off quite nicely. When you’re an overseas player, it’s not necessarily about runs, it’s about impact on a game. All I was trying to think coming into this tournament was how I can have the biggest impact possible. Not necessarily being the leading run scorer at the end of the competition.”
