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Perth Scorchers believe they will have momentum in BBL final

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4th February, 2021
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Liam Livingstone says the Perth Scorchers are brimming with confidence and have real momentum going into the Big Bash League final against Sydney Sixers.

Scorchers opener Livingstone says he hopes Sydney Sixers are “running scared” as the Big Bash League rivals prepare to square off in yet another final.

Livingstone’s quip, coming after his entertaining knock of 77 helped Perth cruise past Brisbane in Thursday night’s semi-final, was quickly followed by praise of the Sixers.

But the Englishman made it clear the Scorchers will boast confidence and momentum at the SCG on Saturday when they will seek to secure a fourth BBL crown.

The Sixers crushed the Scorchers by nine wickets in Saturday’s qualifying final but Livingstone’s side were able to quickly put that defeat – and the fact they would not return home for Thursday’s final because of Perth’s lockdown – behind them.

“The confidence within the camp is pretty special…we’ve almost played the perfect game (against Brisbane),” he said.

“I hope they were watching and they’re running scared. No, the Sixers have played great cricket.

“They’ve beaten us a couple of times. It’s away from here (Manuka Oval) thankfully.

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“Playing this game (knock-out final) can go one of two ways. You can get a bit of momentum, which we hopefully got and they haven’t had a chance to get.”

Livingstone, who first joined the Scorchers for the 2019-20 season, quickly realised the rivalry between his club and the Sixers “is pretty big”.

“I guess it’ll be a bit bigger after what happened in the last game, which is great for us,” he said.

“The better we (play)…when we get in a fight. So hopefully we can bring our A-game on Saturday and come out on top.”

The rivalry between the Scorchers and Sixers, who are preparing to meet in their fourth season-deciding final, has been built on cracking cricket and high-stakes games.

Another chapter was added last Saturday, when Sixers batsman James Vince was stranded on 98 not out after AJ Tye bowled a wide and finished the game.

Vince shot Tye a dirty look of disbelief at the time, but later said he would take the paceman’s word that he didn’t mean to deliver such an incredibly short bouncer.

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Others, such as former England captain Michael Vaughan, were not as forgiving.

“The criticism that AJ got was unnecessary and I guess that’s what we get, we’re in the spotlight,” Livingstone said.

“But I can guarantee you now that AJ didn’t mean what happened.”

© AAP

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