PS vs SS

That's a wrap. We have reached the end of our live coverage. It's the Perth Scorchers who advance to the final. They get to host the final on January 25, but the Sixers will have their work cut out. Being blown away for only 99 in a high-stakes encounter is never a great feeling. But we expect them to come back strong in the second Qualifier, due to be played on January 23. Do tune in for tomorrow as well, as we have another enthralling BBL encounter on the cards. The Melbourne Stars will take on the Hobart Hurricanes in a do-or-die knockout. For now, this is Datrim Ray, signing off on behalf of my colleague, Soumarya Dutta. Cheers and see you soon! 

7:34 PM Local Time (5:04 PM IST): Perth Scorchers have won by 48 runs. 

Finn Allen - 49 (30) | Mahil Beardman 3/20
Steve Smith - 37 (24) | Ben Dwarshuis 2/23

FABULOUS WIN! THE PERTH SCORCHERS HAVE DONE IT! They are through to the final on the back of a commanding 48-run win! Defending 148 was never going to be an easy ask. But their bowlers kept taking wickets and never allowed the Sixers to get away in this run chase. The Sixers got off to the worst possible start by losing Babar Azam cheaply without a run on the board. Despite being rocked early, Steve Smith showed very few signs of holding back. But from the other end, the wickets kept falling. Beardman struck in his very first over and dented the Sixers with a double blow by sending Phillipe and Henriques back into the hut in quick succession.

Smith soaked all the early pressure early doors to help the Sixers recover from a tricky situation. A sensible partnership (40 off 28) followed between Smith and Shaw which significantly altered the Sixers’ course in the run chase. But the Scorchers kept hunting for wickets, and as a result, Payne was able to find a way to break this stand before the midway point. By the drinks interval, more trouble followed, with the Sixers sinking to a shocking 64/5. However, the final nail in the coffin came when the Sixers lost Smith right after the drinks break. From that point on, there was very little chance for the Sixers to make a comeback.

The Sixers kept sinking further as they couldn’t prevent the procession of wickets. Payne and Hardie kept the pressure on and chipped in with wickets at regular intervals. Moreover, some reckless batting from Davies and Abbott made work far too easy for the Scorchers towards the back end. Eventually, the Sixers failed to carry on and were bundled out inside the surge for a dismal 99.

14.6 Jhye Richardson to Ben Dwarshuis, GAME OVER!! PERTH SCORCHERS HEAD INTO THE BBL FINAL!! It was short and pace on at the stumps. Dwarshuis tried to pull that one away and he ended up getting a leading edge on it. That one hung in the air for a while but the keeper got underneath that one and collected it cleanly. Sydney Sixers are all out for 99 in 15 overs. Perth Scorchers win by 48 runs. 

14.5 Jhye Richardson to Mitchell Starc, short of a good length and on the pads. Starc tucks it away towards the fine leg region for a single. 

14.2 Jhye Richardson to Ben Dwarshuis, FOURRR! SHOTT! It was overpitched and bowled outside off. Dwarshuis lofts it away over the mid off region for a boundary. 

13.5 David Payne to Sean Abbott, short amd around the middle stump line. Abbott pulled it away through the mid wicket region for a couple of runs. There is an appeal for a run out.

Oh no! Seems like that Abbott was short of his ground and that might be the 9th wicket down. His bat was not held in his hand while he crossed over. With his feet airborne, Abbott did not make his ground, and that resulted in a bizarre run out. The Sixers are folding up all too quickly at the moment. 

13.4 David Payne to Joel Davies, ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST! It was full and pace off at the stumps. Davies walked across and looked to get it over short fine leg. He got too far across and ended up getting clean bowled.