Big Bash League: Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers to meet in another grand final decider

Perth Scorchers will have to go through a familiar foe if they are to claim another Big Bash title, with the Sydney Sixers to return to Optus Stadium for the second time in a week after dominating the Hobart Hurricanes.

After Steve Smith’s brutal BBL summer raged on with a half-century that helped the Sydney Sixers set Hobart 199 runs for victory in the Challenger final, the Hurricanes were never in the hunt, bowled out for 141 in 17.2 overs.

Ben Dwarshuis was the chief destroyer, taking 3-26 to help seal the 58-run win.

It means the two most successful franchises in league history will once again do battle for the Big Bash crown in what will be a sixth grand final meeting between the two sides.

The Scorchers have won three of their five previous title battles against the Sixers, with the pair last meeting in a decider in 2022, with Laurie Evans inspiring them to a 79-run victory at Docklands in Melbourne.

The Sixers will also have to overcome the third cross-country flight inside a week after the Scorchers defeated them in Tuesday night’s qualifier.

Opening batter Smith (65 runs off 43 balls) was the Sixers’ top-scorer for the fifth time in as many games this season, taking charge after Moises Henriques lost the bat flip at the SCG.

Chasing 199, Hobart lost both openers inside the powerplay but fought back through a 48-run stand between Webster (24) and Ben McDermott (40) for the third wicket.

The reigning champions never recovered from Webster holing out just before drinks, with Matthew Wade (0) and Nikhil Chaudhary (4) falling in consecutive Joel Davies (2-17) deliveries during a collapse of 4-14.

After contributing a handy 27 runs at No.5, allrounder Davies had a brilliant night in the field, diving low for a one-handed catch off his own bowling to dismiss veteran Wade.

The 31,127-strong Sydney crowd rejoiced as the ‘Canes were all out for 141 in the 18th over.

Earlier Smith shrugged off the loss of opening partner Babar Azam, who abruptly left for Pakistan national team duties on Thursday, to power the Sixers (8-198) to their highest score when batting first in a finals match.

He kick-started the Sixers’ innings with consecutive fours off Riley Meredith (3-52) in the second over.

The lone six of Smith’s innings flew into the Brewongle Stand off Will Prestwidge, though not quite as high as the shot that landed on that same roof in Smith’s last game at the SCG.

Smith mined the area behind the stumps, particularly past third man, and brought up his third half-century of the tournament with a cut shot that bounced once for four past backward point.

Billy Stanlake (2-46) was key early, dismissing new opener Daniel Hughes (13) and No.3 Josh Philippe (15) before they could forge meaty partnerships with Smith.

With AAP