The Sydney Sixers will be looking to continue their unbeaten start to the Big Bash League when they take on the Perth Scorchers at the SCG tonight.
Join The Roar for live scores of the match between the Sixers and Scorchers from 7:10pm AEDT.
After beating the Thunder, in the Sydney Smash on Saturday night, the Sixers are now at the top of the ladder with three wins from three matches. Tonight they will be looking to make it four wins over the Scorchers. If they can do that they will almost certainly book their spot in the finals series.
In the history of the Big Bash League no team has missed the finals after winning the first four matches of the season.
In 2011/12 it was the Hurricanes who won four matches in a row to start the season and finish second after the round robin matches.
In the next season, the Renegades would win their opening four games of the season, as they finished top after the regular season.
Last year it was the Stars who won the opening four games of the year as they went through the round robin tournament with eight straight wins.
While it may be good to make the finals with four straight wins, this feat has also been a curse to those teams in the last three years.
On each occasion – when a team has made the finals with four straight – the team involved has lost in the semi-final.
Tonight’s match will also be a replay of the semi-final last year between the two teams at the SCG.
On that night the Scorchers won a rain affected match to win by five runs. It promises to be a cracking match between two teams who are in great form in the competition.
While the Sixers feats have already been mentioned, the Scorchers have also started the season well.
After losing in a narrow contest to the Strikers, in the first game of the season, the Scorchers bounced back well with a big win over the Renegades on Boxing Day.
They will be confident of pulling off the upset tonight against the Sixers. If recent history is anything to go by, expect this match to be a close one.
In the other match between the two teams last year, it went to a super over, with the Scorchers winning through a great over from Yasir Arafat.
These two teams also played in the first Big Bash final in 2012 with the Sixers winning by seven wickets.
Overall the Scorchers lead the head to head with three wins and two losses.
The Sixers – after losing three straight matches – haven’t defeated the Scorchers since 2012 when they won the inaugural Big Bash league.
For the match the Sixers have made just one change with Ed Cowan included in the 13 man squad. Ben Dwarshuis, who played in the opening match of the season, is out of the team.
Perth remains unchanged from the team that defeated the Renegades on Boxing Day. Brad Hogg did travel with the team to Sydney but isn’t expected to play with his hamstring injury.
Both teams have strong bowling line-ups which can create nightmares for the opposition.
For the Sixers they have Mitchell Starc, Brett Lee, Doug Bollinger, Sean Abbott and Moises Henriques in the fast bowling department. Luke Doran, who bowls spin, compliments the five fast bowlers.
Against the Thunder, all six players got a run, as they were able to stop the strong batting line-up of their opposition.
Perth will have a challenge to score runs against this bowling line-up.
Leading the charge for Perth is Jason Behrendorff who is the number one bowler in the league so far this season.
He has the most wickets on average in the competition and also has the best average and economy in the league after two matches.
The other bowlers in the line-up, including Yasir Arafat, Ashton Agar, and James Muirhead, have complimented Behrendorff nicely in the first two matches.
Both teams in their opening matches of the competition have restricted the opposition to less than 165 runs. I expect similar scores tonight.
Whichever bowling line-up can get on top will be the team that will win the game.
If they don’t then the batsmen will have their day.
For the Scorchers, Michael Klinger has been the standout with 154 runs in the first two matches of the season. For the Sixers, Nic Maddinson has been the star with 125 runs in his three matches.
Both players, who play at the top of the order, will be pivotal as they try to score enough runs to win the game.
This is a tough match to pick. It will be close and both teams can win with the squad they have.
Recent form has all been with the Scorchers so I will lean towards them to take the win in an enthralling contest.
PREDICTION – Perth Scorchers.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
That is all from me tonight. Thanks for joining in and being a part of the live blog. I'll be back on New Years Day with the Perth Scorchers and the Sydney Thunder match. Until then, have a Happy New Year, have fun, and stay out of trouble. Until next year it is bye for now.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
THOUGHTS In one of the best bowling performances of the Big Bash League, Perth have defended 136 runs to record a 36 run victory over the Sixers at the SCG tonight. If we have learned anything from tonight, it is this; the Perth Scorchers can defend almost anything in the competition. Before tonight they had defended two of the three lowest totals in the history of the competition. Tonight they made it 3 out of 4 by defending 136 against the Sixers. Last year, against the Renegades, they defended a record low of 117 to win by 6 runs. In the first year of the competition they defended the same total as tonight against the Stars at the MCG. Only the Brisbane Heat - who defended 129 against the Strikers last year - have defended a total lower than 140 in the competition. Tonight they did it with a bit of luck, and some fine bowling by their squad. Behrendorff once again led from the front with 4 economical overs. While he didn't get the wickets in the match, he kept his end tidy, and only conceded 17 runs from his end. At the other end, Dixon, Tye and Arafat each played a vital role with two wickets each. Turner also did well with his two wickets in one over. The game turned with the loss of Henriques. His hit wicket triggered the collapse that ended the game. Before that Wessels and Henriques looked good for the Sixers. Those two wickets to the Scorchers turned the game. They then took 8/40 for finish the game. For both teams they will be disappointed with their batting. The Scorchers struggled in the middle of their innings. Tye and Arafat saved them with a vital 26 run stand in the final four overs. For the Sixers their middle order crumbled under the pressure of the chase and the bowling from the Scorchers. They couldn't handle the pressure and they collapsed quickly. Some of the dismissals were pretty poor from the Sixers. They will now need to re-group fast before the next match against the Stars in Melbourne. A loss like tonight can derail a season. They will need to bounce back quickly with a win against the Stars. For the Scorchers they will be looking to continue the momentum against the Thunder on New Years Day. They could be 3 from 3 if they won the first match against the Strikers. Instead they sit at 2 wins a 1 loss and look like a strong team this season. They are now inside the top 4 for the first time this season.
haydos
Guest
The Renegades couldn't reach Perth's 117 at the WACA last year but this is worse...99 all out at home. Scorchers have ways of being in games they have no right to be in.
jamesb
Guest
That game was so boring.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
FULL SCOREBOARD - Lumb - ct Voges bowled Dixon - 8 Maddinson - ct Agar bowled Dixon - 2 Wessels - Run Out (Tye) - 28 Henriques - hit wicket bowled Arafat - 23 Silk - LBW Tye - 10 Carters - ct Voges bowled Arafat - 8 Abbott - ct Agar bowled Tye - 5 Starc - ct Voges bowled Turner - 0 Doran - LBW Turner - 1 Bollinger - Bowled Behrendorff - 1 Lee - NOT OUT - 7* Extras (Leg Byes 2, Wides 4) TOTAL - ALL OUT 99 BOWLING Dixon - 4 0 22 2 Behrendorff - 4 0 17 1 Agar - 2 0 22 0 Arafat - 2.3 0 15 2 Tye - 2 0 12 2 Voges - 2 0 6 0 Turner - 1 0 3 2
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/654067.html It isn't a run chase but the batting performance was poor.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
17.3/20 GAME OVER Carters tries to hit out down the ground but it goes high in the air. It falls to Voges at cover and he takes an easy catch. The Scorchers win by 36 runs. What a bowling effort by the Scorchers. Incredible comeback. Sydney all out for 99. Carter 8 - ct Voges bowled Arafat Lee remains not out with 7. Full scoreboard and debrief in a second.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
17.2/20 WIDE Sydney 9/99
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
17.2/20 Lee gets one run with the next ball. Sydney 9/98 Lee 7* Carters 8*
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Strikers v Stars last year at the MCG was worse than this.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
17.1/20 Arafat continues. The first ball is a dot ball.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
17/20 The Sixers get two more runs to finish the over. Behrendorff finishes his four overs with 1/17. 9/97 Carters 8* Lee 6* Sydney need 39 from 18.
E-Meter
Guest
That is the worst run chase ever seen in the Big Bash. And how on earth is Jordan Silk considered a T20 player.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
16.4/20 Lee gets one run with the next ball. Carters then hits the ball to third man for two runs. Sydney 9/95 Carter 7* Lee 5*
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
16.2/20 Great start for Lee. He gets an edge with the first ball and it goes for four runs. Sydney 9/92 Lee 4* Carters 5* If Sydney is to win then Carters needs to go for broke.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
16.1/20 WICKET FOR THE SCORCHERS Behrendorff is now into the attack and he gets Bollinger out first ball. Bollinger got a run from the final ball of the over to retain the strike. He is then clean bowled with a great yorker from Behrendorff. This game is almost over. What a bowling show by the Scorchers. Sydney 9/88 Bollinger 1 - bowled Behrendorff Carters 5* Brett Lee is in.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
15.5/20 WICKET FOR THE SCORCHERS The wickets keep falling. Doran is now out for the Sixers. He is hit on the pad in front of the wickets and is given out LBW. The replay shows it is missing leg but you can't blame the umpire for giving that out. It looked out live. Sydney 8/87 Doran 1 - LBW Turner Carters 5* Doug Bollinger is in.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
15.3/20 Doran is now in for the Sixers. The second ball is a dot ball. He then gets a single with the next ball.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
15.1/20 WICKET FOR THE SCORCHERS Turner comes into the attack and takes a wicket with his first ball. He bowls a ball that rises on Starc. Starc then lifts the ball and hits it straight to Voges at cover. He is out for a golden duck. Sydney 7/85 Starc 0 - ct Voges bowled Turner
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
15/20 WICKET FOR THE SCORCHERS. Two runs in two deliveries gets Abbott back on strike. He then tries to smash the next ball for six. He can't and finds the fielder at deep long on. Agar takes a simple catch and the Scorchers are now on top. Sydney 6/85 Abbott 5 - ct Agar bowled Tye Carters 4* Mitchell Starc is in. They now need 51 from 30.