BBL06 comes to an end this Saturday as the Scorchers and the Sixers clash at the ‘Furnace’ in Perth.
The final of BBL06 will take place this Saturday after nearly two months of world class T20 cricket, with the Perth Scorchers going head to head with the Sydney Sixers at the WACA.
Can the Sixers put in a repeat performance of their six wicket win over the Perth franchise late last year or will the Scorchers turn up the heat at the Furnace? Let’s take a look:
Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers | Saturday 28 January | The WACA, Perth | 10:05
To Win Match
Scorchers 8/10 | Tie 35/1 | Sixers 1/1
Perth Scorchers
The Scorchers have been magnificent this season and are full value for their home final. They breezed past the Melbourne Stars in the first semi-final in front of a sold out WACA and will be looking to do the same against the men in pink.
Much of the Scorchers’ success this season has to be attributed to the return of Mitchell Johnson. The left-arm slinger seems to be recapturing the form that saw him decimate South Africa during that summer in 2013.
He was at his best in the semi-final against the Stars finishing up with figures of 4-3-3 – an incredible achievement at any level in T20 cricket – let alone in the knockout phase of one of the most competitive T20 leagues on the planet. His performance will be vital to the Western Australian’s chances of securing their third Big Bash title.
His pace has been consistently upward of 145 kph and his ability to generate swing – even in the shortest format of the game – into the right handers is something that can’t be overlooked. That said, the majority of the Sixers top-order is made of left-handers, who should be able to better negate the swing if any is on offer.
Shaun Marsh and Michael Klinger are the other two players to keep an eye on this Saturday. Marsh has hit form at exactly the right time in the tournament. He was averaging just 11 prior to his last two matches. However, scores of 57 and 56* have bumped that tournament average up to 25.
If he can fire at the top of the innings with Klinger – who has been solid as ever this season – they’ll afford the middle order to play with freedom in the last few overs of the innings in a bid to put a big score on the board.
They’ll have a raucous WACA crowd behind them as they look to secure their third BBL title. They’re rightly favourites to do so and should have too much firepower for the Sixers.
Sydney Sixers
The Sixers booked their place in the final off the back of a thrilling Super Over win against the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba on Wednesday. Moises Henriques’ performance with the bat proved to be the difference between the two sides.
A 34-ball 64 in the Sixers’ chase and a rapid 18* in the Super Over sunk a Heat side who definitely missed the big-hitting prowess of Chirs Lynn. Still, the Sixers are deservedly through to the final.
They’ll be looking to their skipper for one last big performance this season in the final as the Portuguese-Australian all-rounder looks to lead his side to their second BBL title. Daniel Hughes will likely play an anchoring role once again while Nic Maddinson and Michael Lumb need to step now at the business end of the tournament.
Lastly, we can’t talk about the Sixers without mentioning Sean Abbott. The big Aussie quick has been in regal form this season, tearing his way through opposition batting line-ups as he became the first bowler to reach 20 wickets in a single Big Bash season. The previous record was held by Cameron Gannon who bagged 18 scalps in the 2013/14 season.
Greg Shipperd will be quietly confident coming into this match, although he knows that his side will be up against it in the Perth heat. If Abbott can get through his work with Nathan Lyon supporting, they’ll have every chance of claiming the victory. It’s very much a case of the Sixer’s attack vs the Scorcher’s top and middle order. Whoever wins that particular battle will likely lift the trophy.
Verdict: Perth Scorchers at 8/10
The Scorchers are definitely the better team on paper and should be backed as such. Also, they’ve got the pedigree to go all the way. They’ve participated in four of the five finals to date, winning two of them. Back the Perth side to lift the title for the third time at the Furnace this Saturday.
Value Bet: Sean Abbott Top Bowler for the Sixers (Most Wickets) 11/4
Abbott has been sensational this term and there’s no reason to why he should fail to deliver at the WACA on Saturday. 11/4 is a massive price and should be backed with a medium stake – get on!
Written by Jason Dewey for @Hollywoodbets.
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