The Perth Scorchers are the BBL champions once again, for a third time in just six seasons, after recording a nine-wicket win over the Sydney Sixers on Saturday night.
Final score
Sydney Sixers 9/141
Perth Scorchers 1/144
The two most successful franchises in Big Bash history will tonight lock horns at the WACA as the Perth Scorchers play host to the Sydney Sixers in the 2016-17 decider. Join The Roar from 7:15pm AEDT for all the live scores, coverage and analysis from the last match of BBL06.
It has been a remarkably even tournament, with only two games and net run rate separating the last-placed Sydney Thunder from the top spot, but the Scorchers’ impressive squad depth and consistency has held them in good stead throughout.
Despite losing three matches in the regular season, they never really looked likely to miss out on a finals berth, and with imperious displays against the Hobart Hurricanes and in their semi-final against the Melbourne Stars, they look to be peaking at the perfect time.
Mitchell Johnson was the hero against the Stars, finishing with the scarcely believable figures of 3/3 off 4 overs, and ensured the game was all but done by the seventh over.
But with the in-form Shaun Marsh unavailable, having been picked for the Australian ODI side for the upcoming tour to New Zealand after posting a pair of form-reversing fifties in the previous two matches, it will be up to Johnson and his bowling comrades to pick up some of the slack.
Left-arm seamer Jason Behrendorff has made a shock return to the squad after being sidelined since November with a stress fracture in his left leg, and with regular quick Jhye Richardson reportedly less than fully fit, the 26-year old could well be in the frame for an immediate return in the most important game of all.
The Sixers, unlike the Scorchers, have had a rollercoaster campaign, with some impressive victories impeded by some heavy defeats. A crushing loss to cross-town rivals the Thunder left them needing an away victory over the Stars in their last regular season match to scrape into the finals.
They certainly rode the gauntlet in that match, with Sean Abbott and Johan Botha lifting them from the mire just when they appeared gone, and their semi-final clash with the Brisbane Heat was just more of the same.
Some Moises Henriques brilliance with the bat appeared to have ensured a comfortable run-chase for the men in pink, before a late collapse forced a dramatic super over.
It was left to Henriques again to ensure the Sixers managed to scrape through in a match they really should have won much earlier.
The Sixers have some selection dilemmas of their own, however, with Kiwi import Colin Munro being called away on international duties.
Jordan Silk appears his most likely replacement, lest the Sixers weaken their already fickle batting order by bringing in one of fast bowling pair Doug Bollinger and Henry Thornton.
Prediction
The Sixers have found improbable ways to win in their past two games, but with form and a die-hard crowd on their side, the Scorchers should be able to get home in a close one.
These teams are no strangers to each other at the business end of the Big Bash, with the Sixers triumphing in the inaugural BBL final before the Scorchers gained their revenge in a last-ball thriller in the 2014/15 edition.
Can Mitchell Johnson and Adam Voges lead the Scorchers to their third BBL crown? Or will it be Moises Henriques and Nathan Lyon who inspire the Sixers to a famous away win?
Tune into The Roar from 7:15pm (AEDT) for live scores and coverage, and be sure to weigh in with your own thoughts in the comments section below.
Bobbo7
Guest
I hope he gets a call up. Deserves it.
Haydos
Guest
Still some matches staying at the WACA. Scorchers will play all their games at the new stadium.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Maybe because NSW didn't want him? You have to be actually offered a contract to move somewhere you know. Tim's comment wasn't silly at all, but your's certainly was.
Bob
Guest
They really want to play ODIs in the new stadium? There will be a lot of empty seats.
Maggie
Guest
Spoilt your good blog with a silly comment. If playing for NSW was a certain ticket to Oz selection, why didn't Klinger take the easy route and move to NSW? He happily moved States twice.
Haydos
Guest
60,000 with the ability to expand to 80,000 in the future.
Tim Miller
Editor
Well, that's it from me tonight and from this Big Bash season! The Scorchers triumphant by 9 wickets in a canter. Also tonight, Serena Williams defeated Venus Williams in straight sets for her 23rd Grand Slam title in the Australian Open final. Be sure to check out Josh's blog on that match. Anyway, cheers for tuning in! Only eleven months to go before BBL07...
Tim Miller
Editor
"We're not sure how many more games the Scorchers will play here at the WACA, so it's so great to get a win here tonight," says Scorchers coach Justin Langer. Of course, he's referring to the under-construction 80,000-capacity stadium that is currently being built with a mind to host AFL and cricket matches by 2018.
Tim Miller
Editor
"Everything that could go to plan went to plan tonight," says Scorchers captain Adam Voges. "It's probably our point of difference, that we pick mostly similar to the WA squad, and bring in a few internationals who do a great job."
Tim Miller
Editor
If Mark Howard doesn't say "Before I go, I'd like to get Bob Murphy up on the stand" I'm switching off.
Tim Miller
Editor
Mark Howard announcing every Scorchers' player as they are presented with their medals on the dais. They really need Craig Willis for this sort of thing I reckon. But of course, he's in Melbourne at the Australian Open.
Tim Miller
Editor
"Thanks to the crowd for coming along tonight, and sorry we couldn't put on a better show," says Sixers captain Moises Henriques.
Tim Miller
Editor
Who gets the Man of the Match award for tonight's game? Sam Whiteman, for his fast start? Mitchell Johnson, for his economical bowling? Michael Klinger, for yet another half-century. Nope. It's Jhye Richardson who gets the award, and he sure is happy about it.
Tim Miller
Editor
The Player of the Tournament Award goes to Chris Lynn. He only played five games, but that's all he needed to play. He was simply awesome this tournament, and deserves to go back-to-back in this award. A match-winning hundred against the Thunder, a brilliant 98 against the Scorchers, and a simply unbelievable average of 154.50. His absence at the back end of the tournament, first through international duties and then through injury, really killed of the Heat's season.
Don Freo
Guest
I'll see your Mitch Starc and Josh Hazlewood with a Jason Behrendorff and a NCN. I'll see your SOK and Garry and raise you Mitch Marsh and James Muirhead (with Voges and Whiteman also missing games). I'll see your Jackson Bird and Nic Maddinson (who might have missed no matches) and raise you Joel Paris and Shaun Marsh.
Tim Miller
Editor
The Under-25 Young Gun Award goes to Sean Abbott. He didn't have the best night tonight, but his 20 wickets across the season is the most by any player thus far in the BBL, with the highlight being a five-wicket haul in the New Year's Eve loss to the Adelaide Strikers.
Tim Miller
Editor
What more can you say about the Perth Scorchers? There have been more talented teams, teams with better bowling units and better batting depth. But across six seasons of the Big Bash, no team has come even close to matching the Scorchers for results. They just get it done. At the start of the season, we weren't quite sure what to make of them. Was Ian Bell really the best international they could find? Would Brad Hogg's departure put too much pressure on the bowling attack? Could Mitchell Johnson return to his best? They've had their ups and downs this tournament like all other sides, but they've found peak form at the optimum time. Johnson has been simply magnificent with the ball in the two finals, producing combined figures of 4/16 off 8 overs, while Jhye Richardson, Tim Bresnan, Andrew Tye and Ashton Agar have provided no easy respite from the other end. And as for their batting, well, Shaun Marsh's absence tonight barely made a dent. Klinger and Whiteman were magnificent, Bell just ticked the score along at the other end, and the rest weren't even required. In six BBL seasons, they've won three championships, made two further finals and another semi-final. Justin Langer and the rest of the brains trust deserve a pay rise for the work they've done in putting this champion team together.
Tim Miller
Editor
He's just so consistent in all formats. Even tonight, it was Whiteman who stole the show early with a flashy innings, while Klinger was just content to push things along at the other end. If he was from New South Wales, he'd have played in all 3 formats by now.
Tim Miller
Editor
The Sydney Sixers, it must be said, actually did well to reach the final. Nobody gave them a prayer at the start of the season, what with the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Stephen O'Keefe, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird and Nic Maddinson in the international squads. But thanks to some crafty bowling from Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott and Johan Botha, and some sensible batting, they've always kept themselves in the mix. It was a brilliant performance to first come back from the brink against the Melbourne Stars to make it into the finals, and then to knock off the Heat in a dramatic super over at the Gabba, but you get the sense they'd already played their final before tonight. Their batting never recovered from losing the top 3 in the first 4 overs, and while Brad Haddin and Johan Botha batted well, they were shining lights in an ultimately disappointing innings. And their bowlers, their greatest strength this tournament, were simply picked apart by some ruthless Scorchers' batting. They get a tick for reaching the final, but they've also provided us the most one-sided final game in Big Bash history.
AREH
Roar Guru
Yet again despite a couple of fails, Klinger plunders over 300 runs striking at comfortably over 100. Whether he does or doesn't earn an Australian T20 cap next month, he has been a proven consistent and dominant performer in this tournament, no matter what kit he wears.