The Perth Scorchers overcame the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League final in Melbourne on Friday, thanks in large part to an unbroken 76 from Laurie Evans.
In the Big Bash League final in Melbourne, Laurie Evans hit an undefeated 76 off 41 balls to help Perth Scorchers overcome the Sydney Sixers to win their fourth title in the competition. Perth scored 79 runs off Sydney’s 92 in 16.2 overs to defeat them by 171 runs in their 20 overs. Scorchers’ revenge after losing to their archrivals in the decider last year. Evans, the game’s man of the match, stated, “What can I say, the lads deserve this.” “They’ve made a lot of sacrifices by not being able to return home. Simply said, I’m proud of how far we’ve come today.”
Despite continuous rain, the game was held at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, where the roof had been closed because of the pandemic.
The Scorchers designated the venue as their “home” ground because they are unable to return to Western Australia owing to Covid fears.
Henriques congratulated Perth, calling them “the best team all year” and “probably fitting” that they won today.
After Henriques won the toss and elected to bowl, the Scorchers were reduced to 25 for 4 after six overs, suggesting that his decision to bowl had been sound.
However, the captain Ashton Turner (54) and Evans put on a remarkable 104-run stand to turn the contest in their favor.
Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe both took two wickets each as Evans smashed four boundaries and four sixes in his spectacular innings.
It was bad news for Sydney when they lost Hayden Kerr so cheaply in the second over. Perth has been champions at protecting low totals this season.
The only other players to reach double digits were Nicholas Bertus (15) and Jay Lenton (10) and their quickfire 42 before being driven out gave them some optimism.
Andrew Tye took three wickets in three overs for 3-15. After dispatching Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis, he was on the verge of a hat-trick until Lyon fought back.
Three-time winners the Scorchers and the Sixers are the only teams in Australia’s Twenty20 tournament to have won multiple titles.
