In what will seem a surprise to many, considering the final ladder, the Perth Scorchers will play the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League final at Manuka Oval in Canberra tonight.
We say surprise, because the Adelaide Strikers were undoubtedly the form side throughout the entirety of BBL04. But during the knockout stages of the tournament you can throw out the form book, and that’s what the Sixers and Nic Maddinson in particular did, thrashing the Strikers to reach their second BBL final.
The Scorchers have now reached four BBL finals on the trot, and will be looking to claim back-to-back titles for the first time in the tournament’s young history.
The match will start at 7:40pm AEDT under lights at Manuka in Canberra, and will be broadcast live on Network Ten. You can also listen to the match, or stream it live online at BigBash.com.au, so head there if you’re looking for a live stream.
Perth come into this battle as clear favourites. They have the big game players, some of the form bowlers in the tournament, and have plenty of BBL finals experience.
Meanwhile, the Sixers had a strong start the season, before suffering a couple of untimely losses. They have roared back into form, with Nic Maddinson leading the way in the semi-final against the Strikers, and Brett Lee returning to top form with the ball. They also have plenty of bowling depth.
It is the batting that will concern the Sixers, and as shown in the past, the loss of early wickets can hamper them significantly. The last time these two sides met, the Scorchers scraped to a total of just 135, but put the pressure on early with the ball to dismiss the Sixers for just 99 in reply.
With the Scorchers bowling attack firing on all cylinders at the moment, Nic Maddinson and Michael Lumb to be put under plenty of pressure from Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye early on.
It is the bowling that is the Scorchers’ strength, as they concede an average of just 141 in the field. How well Behrendorff and Tye bowl today will go a long way to determining the result of this game.
Brad Hogg vs Nathan Lyon
As ever, spin will play a key role in the result of this game, and how the veteran Brad Hogg and Aussie hopeful Steve O’Keefe bowl will got a long way to determining the result of this game.
Hogg has been one of the spinners of the tournament so far, despite missing a chunk of it due to injury. he has captured six wickets, but has them at an economy of just 5.15 in his five matches. It makes for impressive reading, and means he’s crucial to keeping the Sixers batsmen quiet tonight.
For the Sixers, O’Keefe has only captured two wickets, amazing for a player of his quality, but has bowled his overs at an economy of 6.45, also good reading. But it looks as if Nathan Lyon will return to the Sixers fold to take O’Keefe’s primary spinner role, and it will be up to him to continue the strong work from the left armer.
Whether O’Keefe will be required at all is a big talking point heading into the match.
They key stat for this match relates to the batsmen. The Sixers and Scorchers own five of the top six positions on the top run-scorers list.
Michael Klinger is equal first, with 293 runs at an average of 36.62, along with Kevin Pietersen. The Sydney trio of Jordan Silk, Maddinson and Lumb follow with tallies of 269, 265 and 262. Maddinson is striking at over 154 runs per 100 balls, so his boom or bust approach could go a long way to deciding this game.
Rounding out the top six is stalwart Michael Carberry for Perth, who has made 257 runs at the top of the order.
Both teams are noted in the bowling department, but clearly the batting has played a big part in getting them this far.
Scorchers 7/135 def Sixers 99 all out.
Heading for a big total, the Scorchers were restricted thanks to some good bowling from the Sixers in the middle and late overs. The Sixers never got going though, and their top order crumbled, leading their tail exposed.
It won’t be that easy for the Scorchers tonight.
Anything can happen in Twenty20 cricket, so buckle up for an exciting night’s play as the BBL champions for 2014/15 will be crowned.
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